Zaid Ayuba Alhaji
Talking about Haneefa comes with a lot of pity, a disturbing reminder of a 5 year innocent girl, so weak, harmless and vulnerable, killed by a man who supposed to protect her, making it the most emotionally and psychologically traumatizing crime in recent times.
As painful as the whole scenario and as much as we call for JUSTICE for the little innocent soul, let us equally remind ourselves how those responsible for serving the justice act as if they will serve it; only for the whole matter to die down as time passes. Based on facts and experience, the case of Haneefa may likely end the same way hundreds of other cases died down miraculously.
From 1999 to date, there were several unsolved murders that can never be revisited and can never get the justice they deserve. Some of these murders where even high-profile with Presidential orders of investigation, at first they began like thunder, shocking the world and gradually as time passes; they became dead and gone!
In 2001, Chief James Bola Ige was killed on 23rd December, remember, even as he was a Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, yet he he never got justice up to this day, the suspected killers were later released while the case died as if it never happened!
Nigerian Navy Releases Postings Of Senior Officers
Have we forgotten about Major General Idris Alkali who was kidnapped on September 2018 and found dead on the 31st October 2018 at Dura-Du village of Plateau State? Even as he was the CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION in the Nigerian Army Headquarters, yet his case seems to be closed, dead and gone!
Let me remind us about one Aisha Abdullahi who was a pregnant woman, raped and killed in Ungogo quarters of Kano on the 21st January, 2016, what happens to the case? Where are the culprits? Imagine such a heinous crime against, humanity, yet no justice for the innocent soul!
On the 13th of August 2020, Ibrahim Sarki Yola of the Upper Shariah Court sentenced a 60-year-old Mati Abdu to death by stoning who raped a 12-year-old girl in 2019, has Mati been stoned or he’s just relaxing in prison waiting for the Governor to sign the death warrant?
On the 21st February 2020, Justice Ahmad Badamasi of the Kano high court sentenced Rashida Sa’idu to deat, that woman who threw her husband from a storey building. Where is Rashida Today? I only want to remind us how killers are indirectly kept alive while their victims were already sent to early graves!
Just few months ago, Rahama Husseini, that Woman that killed her husband, was GRANTED STATE PARDON by the Governor of Kano State; with the additional promise that the Kano State Government would support her rehabilitation. You can imagine how killers are pampered in the name of democracy and Principles of human right!
In November 19th 2017, Maryam Sanda stabbed her husband to death, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal High Court FCT convicted her on 4th December 2020. Where is Maryam and do you think that she would be served what she served her late husband?
On October 2021, Hauwa’u Habibu in Diso community; Gwale LGA of Kano State hacked her two children to death in Kano just because her husband is marrying a second wife. This mockery against lives is intentionally done because the perpetrators are convinced that the criminal justice system may not deal with them in the actual sense they should!
Can you remember the suspected killer of Hajiya Sa’adatu Rimi, the wife of late Governor Rimi? The man was just sentenced to five-years jail term. She was murdered in 2006, only for the judgment to be held till Wednesday April 24 2013. Most times, prison sentence on suspected murderers only strengthen the criminals after jail terms, they end up becoming more hardened criminals.
In November 2021,Timothy Adegoke, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, who was killed in a hotel on November 6, 2021 is yet to find justice. On 1st December 2021, Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College Lagos was suspected to be killed, justice is yet to be served.
All of as Nigerians should begin to see that the law empowers the Governors to sign execution warrants in order to create bridges. As far as politics is a game of interest, no Governor would sign death warrant, because no Governor would want to be remembered for someone’s death!
Justice in Nigeria can only be gotten by those that are extremely lucky! Since execution of death sentence is relying on the signature warrants of politicians, then the sanctity of human lives is threatened. In fact, the political history of Nigeria since 1999 to date, only record two state governors to have executed some few persons on death row: Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau as governor of Kano State, and Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State.
Section 316 of the Criminal Code didn’t spear these murderers, but political influence and negligence continue to only send them to prison without signing the warrant that will send them to where they sent their victims. A sane mind will be imagining how persons that commit crimes punishable by death under section 220, 221, 222 of the Penal Code are only kept enjoying in prisons!
Even as Nigerians are already demanding for justice for Haneefa, despite Governor of Kano State and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have shown that justice would be served, be reminded that there are currently more than 3,000 + condemned criminals waiting for execution in our prisons; this should remind us that 1st class criminals and terrorists are only caged not killed!
Be reminded that global powers kept campaigning for abolishing death sentence, while our politicians are more afraid of global condemnation than doing what is right, which explain why they stylishly refuse to sign the condemnation of these 1st class criminals.
I pray that Hanifa and all victims of extra judicial killings gets justice speedily. It only hurt us more and demoralize us to know that getting justice for those killed is almost impossible, may be because it is attached to the approval of politician, it is our duty to remind them that the same way the killer loves his life, so does the victim!
It conclusion, Judges and state governors should fear God and help us get rid off criminal elements. It is high time we consider humanity first before legal technicalities and political lobbying when dealing with Kidnappers and killers in general. Be merciless to those who have no mercy on human lives. We pray for justice for Haneefa!.
May Allah comfort save us all.
Zaid Ayuba Alhaji
Write from Kano. A public affairs analyst, commentator and expert in public policies and administration.
comradezaid6@gmail.com
