Following his discharge by the court over a rape allegation made by Hadiza Baffa, former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has publicly shared his side of the story.
Turaki stated that breaking his silence was necessary for the sake of the record and posterity, stressing that “silence is no longer golden.”
Hadiza Baffa, who had accused Turaki of rape and other serious allegations, later admitted she lied. She formally apologized, withdrew her police petition, and the court consequently struck out the case, discharging the former minister.
In a related development, Hadiza’s father, Mr. Musa Bashir Baffa, also issued a written apology to Turaki. In his letter, he pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of his family and accused his daughter and her mother—his ex-wife—of being used by political adversaries to smear Turaki’s reputation.
Hadiza Baffa had previously accused Turaki of sexual assault, terminating multiple pregnancies for alleged ritual purposes, and threatening her life. Based on her petition, Turaki was charged in court.
However, the case was dismissed after Hadiza recanted her claims. Turaki, in response, sued Hadiza, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and others in September 2024, describing the allegations as false and politically motivated.
A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Lawal Umar, on Wednesday, reaffirmed Turaki’s consistent stance that the allegations were baseless and orchestrated by political enemies. Despite the gravity of the accusations, Turaki said he refrained from public comments during the investigation to avoid influencing legal proceedings.
However, the lack of immediate clarification gave room for unverified narratives to circulate on social media. Turaki now believes it is imperative to set the record straight.
The statement detailed that Hadiza Baffa was entrusted to Turaki’s care by her mother when she moved to Abuja. Out of respect for their longstanding relationship, he accepted the responsibility and treated her like a ward. But after her repeated involvement in financial scams and detentions—often requiring Turaki’s intervention—he informed her mother and ended his guardianship.
Aggrieved by his decision, Hadiza filed a police petition accusing him of rape, abortion, and threats to life, and also spread these claims on social media. A police investigation, however, found no evidence to support her allegations. Despite this, charges were initially filed.
Hadiza later wrote to both the police and the court to withdraw her claims, resulting in the case’s dismissal and Turaki’s discharge. Her father followed with a formal apology, acknowledging Turaki’s past support for his daughter and expressing regret over the entire episode.
In addition, Hadiza sent a WhatsApp message from her verified number (0806 795 7035), stating:
“Salaam, ya ibada? Allah ya karba mana. Seeing you yesterday in the witness box was heart-wrenching and it saddens me a lot, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I never wished for all this to happen but unfortunately, we are here already.
I want to withdraw my police case and for the sake of this holy month, please forgive me, bygones be bygones. May Allah ease our affairs.”
The statement also clarified that Turaki first learned of a purported DNA test result when it circulated on social media. He challenged its authenticity in court, which led to a restraining order preventing any party from relying on it until the matter is resolved legally.
