INCEST IN NIGERIA:
‘Emir of Katsina Kidnaps, Forcefully Marries My 14 Year Under-age Daughter’-Cries Isiyaku Tanko, traumatised father of Habiba
*Outrage in Nigeria over Police hierarchy nonchalance, Recounts ordeal in Emir’s Palace
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU
IT is always within the plan of every parents to give good education to the children and ensure they eventually get married to their suitors at marriageable age as stipulated by Nigerian constitution. It is certainly more painful emotionally for any parent to witness the daughter being cohesively taken away right before the eyes in a helpless situation by a well connected royal monarch in the home state of the incumbent Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari; yet no action has been taken by the presidency to ensure Rule of Law is being followed in this matter gradually attracting global condemnation. This is the sad story of Isiyaku Tanko, a struggling artisan of Warkaza community in Kudun Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina state whose 14 year old daughter had been denied her constitutional rights, married off by threat to Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji AbdulMumin Kabiru Usman, while the father is being made to lose the benefit of fatherhood.
First Schedule Forms Second Schedule of Marriage Act Chapter 218 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria in 1990 Constitution under Offences and Penalties in sub-section 48 states: ‘Whoever, knowing that the written consent required by this Act has not been obtained, shall marry or assist or procure any other person to marry a minor under the age of twenty-one (21) years, not being a widow or widower, shall be liable to imprisonment for two years.”
On renunciation of Nigerian citizenship, the provision of section 29 of the Nigerian Constitution says “any Nigerian of full age can renounce his or her citizenship” and some conditions were set such as (4a) under section 29 which says 18 years and above.
Going by the ordeal Isiyaku undergone in the hands of aides to Emir of Katsina in the Palace, it is clear that the actions, position and decision taken so fa by the royal monarch is in flagrant breach of Marriage Act Chapter 218 of Laws of the Federation of Nigeria in 1990 Constitution under Offences and Penalties in sub-section 48 which attracts an imprisonment if convicted for two years.
Troubled Isiyaku have accused the Emir of Katsina of forcefully abducting and marrying his 14 years daughter, Habiba Isiyaku, denying her of her constitutional rights. Habiba was allegedly abducted on the 16th August, 2016 by an official of Emir of Katsina and staff in the Palace simply known as Jamilu Lawal, even against the defenseless girl’s protest.
Narrating this ordeal to our correspondent Isiyaku through his lawyer, Barrister Yakubu Bawa decried the manner which aides in the Emir’s Palace manhandled him in his attempt to secure his daughter. In tears, he complained about how the matter is being mishandled by Nigeria’s Inspector General
of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi.
In his words, Barrister Bawa said: “It is because she is under a guardian and the control of her parents, now until she clocks at least 18, that is the age of maturity and accountability. The second point is that Habiba cannot be forcefully be converted to Islam by the Emir of Katsina.
“He has no right to do that. The third point to look at is the fact that the commissioner of Police (CP) never cared. This was a helpless man, a vulnerable man that desperately called upon Stefanos Foundation (a non-governmental organisation) to come to his aid and help secure the release of his daughter.
“The CP summoned the parties concerned in his office in a weird manner. What baffled me and made
my heart bled non-stop was when an ordinary security detail to the king passed on an instruction that Emir of Katsina had instructed him that he was under a strict royal order to bring back the kidnapped girl to the of Palace. Yet the CP that who has the entire ;police command under his control could not even take a position but to succumb to the instruction as he ensured the girl was taken back to the Palace. As a lawyer, I know the CP has failed in his constitutional duties as enshrined in the Police Act.
Ordeal in Emir of Katsina Place
Bawa explained that “On reaching the Emir Palace, Habiba’s father was made to sit on the floor and the Emir demand to introduce the matter through his aide, Kilishin Katsina who said his daughter had been converted into Islam, since she now wears Hijab (a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women). Habiba was brought to the king, she was so ashamed that she could not look at her mother and father in the face. Kilishin then maintained that since Habiba has been converted, there is a big barrier between the parents and their daughter now.
Corroborating this view, Isiyaku said: “I told them that since my daughter had been converted to Islam, they should give me my daughter so I may leave and have her practice her newly found faith (Islam) in my house, Kilishin rejected it.
In a shocking manner, Bawa lamented how Isiyaku was humiliated in the Palace, “the Emir then said that Habiba’s father has committed a crime. He was compelled under threat and duress to append his signature to an already prepared statement that he (Isiyaku) made an error to have complained to the police. He left the palace shattered, broken-heated, helpless and emotional broken.
“Habiba is about clocking two months now in captivity. The abduction and procurement of a Christian minor, Habiba by the Emir of Katsina is vicious, barbaric, callous atrocities done to Christians not
only in Katsina but the entire north west of Nigeria.”
Also speaking on this matter, an official of Stefanos Foundation, Mark Lipdo decried the pain the family have been going through since the forceful abduction of their daughter.
Lipdo further states that “Habiba is expected to clock 15 years on Saturday, 15th October, 2016 and would have resume school in the new academic term. Habiba passed her Junior secondary school examination in flying colours and was expected to start Senior Secondary School (SSS1) this new term. It was also revealed that attempts to make the IG of Police, Idris intervene in the matter received no positive response from Police Headquarters in Abuja. Bawa regrets that Idris failed to respond to the letter forwarded to his office calling on the Police to secure Habiba from her abductors in Emir’s Palace.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) shows no interest
Bawa explained to this correspondent that to make matter worse, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) failed to show commitment in rescuing Habiba, even when they were contacted early this month of October, they were not forthcoming. The lack-luster approach adopted by CAN discouraged the family from pushing this matter forward to various child-rights members of international community.
In same way, Joy Akanonu, owner of Fantastic Mum Nigeria (FMN) has sent words of appeal to President Buhari and Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and secure Habiba’s release. As at press time, no statement has been issued by Nigeria’s presidency on this matter, no steps had been taken by the nation’s security operative to secure the 14 year girl’s rescue.
It would be recalled that for about two decades, the raging controversy over the issue of marriage as it affects the Nigerian Constitution has been a topic of debate among members of the legislative arm of government as well as the Nigerian masses.
