From Paul Orude, Bauchi
A human rights organisation, the African Child Development and Human Rights Protection, has called on the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Auwal Mohammed, to re-arrest a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration for allege rape. The suspect, Sani Sale Muazu, was arrested by the police for allegedly raping a housewife and mother of two, Lubabatu Yusuf. After the arrest, the suspect was released on bail, a development that did not go down well with the family of the victim who approached the organisation to seek redress.
Dissatisfied with the release of the suspect, the Founder of African Child Development and Human Rights Protection, Alkassim Muhammad, wrote a petition, dated December 22, 2023, to the Commissioner of Police in the state, on behalf of the victim.
In the petition, the legal practitioner urged the Commissioner of Police to order the re-arrest of the suspect, saying rape is a serious offence that should not be treated with levity.
In the letter entitled: ‘Petition Against Sani Sale Mu’azu, Deputy Superintendent Of Immigration for Enticing, and Raping One Lubabatu Yusuf: Urgent Need for the Re-Arrest of the Suspect’, the victim appealed for justice. It was stated in the letter that on December 12, 2023, the victim through her solicitor wrote a petition against the suspect to the Commissioner for the alleged offences of enticing a married woman and rape, contrary to sections 384, 237 and 278 of the Bauchi State Penal Code, 2022.
Alkassim said the petition was directed by the Commissioner of Police to the Gender Section of the Nigerian Police in Bauchi for investigation.
“The magnitude of the alleged offence required thorough investigation and scrutiny. To the victim’s dismay, and less than 72 hour after his arrest, the suspect used his influence through one traditional title holder, to secure his bail, and same having been granted to him, without completing the investigation. The identity of the said traditional titleholder will be exposed in our subsequent follow up.”
When contacted on phone, the Immigration officer declined to comment on the allegation against him, saying the issue was being investigated.