By Khalid Idris Bauchi
Bauchi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki, has vehemently denied allegations of child abduction leveled against him. Speaking to journalists, Hon. Zaki questioned, "How can a father abduct his own biological daughter? Zainab Nuhu Zaki is legally and religiously my child, and I have every right over her."
The controversy began when Iklima Manu Soro, through her lawyer, petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), claiming that Hon. Zaki had abandoned his daughter from birth until she was nine years old, only to later forcefully take custody of her without any legal process.
Hon. Zaki explained that he had been married to Zainab's mother under Islamic law but was compelled to divorce her due to irreconcilable differences with her family. He alleged that pressure from her relatives contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.
"I never intended to divorce my wife because we loved each other deeply, but her family's interference led to the unfortunate end of our marriage," he said.
The commissioner acknowledged the efforts of his former father-in-law, Alhaji Manu Soro, and other relatives who had tried to reconcile them. He stated that despite obtaining favorable court rulings from three different courts granting him custody of his daughter, he was repeatedly denied access to her.
"Now that her mother has remarried, and Zainab is no longer comfortable living with her grandfather, she has chosen to stay with me and her siblings. What is wrong with that? Yet, some individuals are running around stirring unnecessary trouble," he added.
Hon. Zaki denied kidnapping or abducting his daughter, emphasizing that he was merely enforcing court rulings. He revealed that Zainab is now in a boarding school alongside three of his other daughters, adding, "Nothing can change that."
He vowed to protect his children legally and religiously, urging his former in-laws to stop pursuing what he termed a baseless case.
Mansur Manu Soro, a senior brother to Zainab's mother and a member of the House of Representatives, declined to comment on the matter, citing its sub-judice nature.
Iklima Manu Soro, through her lawyer, insisted that the matter was still in litigation and accused Hon. Zaki of violating a Bauchi State High Court ruling. The petitioners have urged the IGP to ensure a thorough investigation and take appropriate legal action against Hon. Zaki.
Tags
Crimes