A Bauchi State High Court has summoned the Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulrazak Zaki, and the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Auwal, to explain why they should not be jailed for allegedly defying a court order.
In a ruling dated January 24, 2025, Justice Mukhtar Abubakar warned that failure to comply with the court’s directives could result in contempt charges and imprisonment. The case stems from a legal dispute involving a custody battle over an 8-year-old girl, Zainab, and the actions of both the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner for Water Resources, which allegedly violated previous court rulings meant to ensure the safety and well-being of the child.
The judge's stern warning stated, “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of this honourable court holden at Bauchi, you will be guilty of contempt, and you will be liable to be committed to prison.” This served as a clear indication that any further defiance of the court’s order would lead to serious legal consequences, including potential imprisonment.
The case, filed under suit number BA/1189/2023 by plaintiff Iklima Soro, accuses the Commissioner of Police of using officers to harass and intimidate her, despite a clear court ruling ordering both parties to maintain the status quo. In addition, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulrazak Nuhu, is alleged to have hired thugs to invade his ex-wife’s residence, which violated an existing court order that had been put in place to prevent such actions.
According to The Punch, the dispute centers on a custody battle over their daughter, Zainab, which escalated when Nuhu allegedly intercepted a school bus on January 20, 2025, in Bauchi’s GRA area. He is accused of abducting their 8-year-old daughter using a vehicle with covered plates and masked security operatives, leaving the other children in the bus traumatized by the event.
The allegations state that Nuhu's actions were part of a larger plan to gain custody of their daughter by any means necessary, including using force. The court has been involved in this dispute for some time, and the gravity of these recent actions has pushed it to take a firmer stance, resulting in the summons to the two commissioners. As of now, two weeks after the alleged abduction, the whereabouts of the child remain unknown, and her mother has not been provided with any information regarding her daughter’s current situation.
The court's intervention has been marked by the decision to charge the two officials with contempt of court, highlighting the seriousness with which the judiciary is addressing this case. The potential legal consequences for the two commissioners could be significant, including jail time, if they are found guilty of defying the court's orders. This case continues to develop, and it is expected that more legal action will follow, as the court seeks to enforce its rulings and protect the interests of the child involved.