Outcry over a Woman's Inhumanity

DANGWA DANJUMA

Following intense investigation and reports by BREKETE FAMILY a flagship radio programme on Human Rights Radio and Television station focusing on human rights abuse, on how Deborah Babaji Longs, a personal assistant to Mrs Mariam Ahmodu Ali, spent three days in a dog’s cage without food or water, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested the wife of former People’s Democratic Party National Chairman and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Col. Ahmodu Ali (rtd).

The story of Deborah Babaji Longs, who worked as Mariam’s personal assistant, featured on Human Rights Radio and Television aka ‘Berekete Family’ on Saturday March 26, 2022 following a report of her alleged imprisonment by Mariam Ahmodu Ali.

Narrating her ordeal, Deborah told Brekete Family under oath that Col. Ahmodou Ali, his two daughters and a son-inlaw witnessed the life threatening humiliation and blows meted out to her by Mrs Ali in the middle of their living room in their Abuja residence.

Deborah gave gory details of how she was beaten to unconsciousness and upon her resuscitation, was subjected to interrogation from her madam’s lawyer whom she said forcefully seized her device and apps, passwords and private account details on account of a house rent transaction. She said she was locked up in a dog cage for three days without food and water before she was rescued. Thereafter she came to Brekete Family to lodge her complaint. She narrated how she suffered the bitter cold, and had insecticide sprayed directly into her eyes, electrical shocks, and use of bludgeoning brute force.

Narrating her ordeal, Deborah told Brekete Family under oath that Col. Ahmodou Ali, his two daughters and a son-inlaw witnessed the life threatening humiliation and blows meted out to her by Mrs Ali in the middle of their living room in their Abuja residence.

“While in the cage, Mummy burgled my house and carted away my belongings, credentials, documents including identification. I was later invited to a sitout area where the lawyer, a security consultant for the house and she held back my phone and purse as surety aside forbidding me from returning to my apartment until I am able to make a refund within thirty days.” Deborah tearfully narrated.

When the Police responded to the complaint of forceful imprisonment by the friends to Deborah, Mrs Ali whose residence was heavily guarded by police personnel could not be reached in three consecutive visits, until a lawyer got involved in the matter.

Mrs. Mariam's arrest was confirmed to Human Rights Radio and Television/Brekete Family on Wednesday, 27 April, 2022 by the Command Spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, who said Mariam was invited under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.

Mariam Ahmodu Ali was invited by the Brekete Family for days, after several other workers also brought complaints of harassment, abuse and non-payment for work done by staff, but she failed to show up.

The arrest of Mrs Ali who reportedly has a penchant for beating up her workers and associates at the slightest misunderstanding or provocation, rekindles hope for down-trodden Nigerians at the receiving end of the wealthy and mighty in the society.

Comments

NEWS FEATURE: Governor el-Rufai and the Sanctity of the Ballot

el-Rufai: Voting at his polling unit BY NASIRU JAGABA F irst of all, let me start by congratulating the Citizens of Kaduna State, for violence free election in the local government polls. The peaceful conduct of the citizens in Kaduna despite the happenings that had shown clearly the desperation of persons in the corridor of power to manipulate, overturn the result refused to give in to the chaos but rather responded with all sense of maturity and confidence in the sanctity of the ballot. Had Kaduna responded in similar desperation as shown by the institutional riggers, perhaps curfew would have been slammed in several areas which would have created the perfect cover for the malpractices to happen. The hate speeches and incitement from the top government officials in Kaduna state government did not end on the platforms for the campaigns alone but went further to reflect in the exercise that held. There are several accounts going round about thugs accompanyin...

Why States may be unable to pay new minimum wage -Commissioner

Citizens listening with rapt attention By YUSUF GOJE C ommissioner, Planning and Budget Commission Kaduna state, Mohammed Sani Dattijo has queried the rationale behind the proposed upward review of the minimum wage, which he said compels even states that are not viable to play ball. Making the assertion at the recently concluded Citizens' Consultation forum on Medium Term Expenditure Framework 2019-2021 held in Kaduna, Dattijo said:"The minimum wage should be moved from the exclusive to the concurrent list, even though Kaduna state is healthier than most states, there are states that cannot afford the increase in minimum wage. If this is not done, the increase in minimum wage will only be on paper but difficult to implement by many states, resulting in labor disputes". He stressed that the exclusiveness of this piece of legislation which empowers only the Federal government to de...

Kaduna COVID-19 Lockdown, People Living with Disabilities and Inclusion

Chairman JONAPWD, Abdulaziz Suleiman , (Right) and a colleague (Middle) in a chat with CALPED's Yusuf Goje By SMITH WAYA Before the index case of Corona virus (Covid-19) in Nigeria, the Kaduna state government held a public hearing on the proposed Kaduna state social protection policy, in line with the administration's slogan of putting the people first. The Joint National Associations of Person with Disability(JONAPWD), Kaduna chapter, as the umbrella body for people living disabilities in the State, were invited to present a position paper on their expectations of the new policy. The Disability Community took advantage of the town-hall meeting to appeal to the state government to work assiduously towards reducing poverty and hunger in their household. The Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, assured them of the state government's commitment in ensuring that no one is left behind especially people living with disabilities. Incidently, as the State governm...

Why Late arrival of Officials and Materials may mar Kaduna LG Elections

Dr Saratu Binta Dikko-Audu: Chairperson Kaduna Electoral Commission A s at 11:35am voting in today's Kaduna L.G polls had not commenced in the city centre, as electoral officials and materials were still making their way to polling units in an election that was slated to commence at 8:00am. At a polling unit, a party agent told Cubinks that the officials have not arrived but have information that they are on their way. Voters were seen around the polling area expressing dissatisfaction with the way things were going. "We hope that the lateness of the officials is not a ploy to disenfranchise voters because we are all determined to vote the candidate of our choice today", said one of the voters. It will be recalled in our coverage of the build up yesterday, we gathered that there are indications that many people will be disenfranchised. The absence of the voter list that ought to be displayed at the polling areas early enough for voters to iden...

Climate Action: Hope rises for Kaduna!

A multi-stakeholder project to plant 10 million economic trees in Kaduna state in the next six years is in the works towards enhancing the state's vegetal cover, in accordance with the renewed global campaign against climate change. Head, Social and Enterprise Development of the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED), Dangwa Abbas Danjuma who dropped the hint during the week in Kaduna while on a courtesy visit to the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, explained: "The Coalition is interested in driving a multi-stakeholder project to plant 10 million economic trees in Kaduna State on or before the end of the year 2025, this is towards re-greening Kaduna. We desire to do so across local governments in the state to empower citizens to take action against deforestation through community based groups with a sustainability plan to develop a robust value chain to improve livelihoods." While apprec...

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog