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Tag: Jatau

  • Drama as Bauchi deputy governor, minister clash during turbaning ceremony

    Drama as Bauchi deputy governor, minister clash during turbaning ceremony

    There was mild drama in Bauchi State yesterday as the Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, reportedly clashed during a high-profile event.

    The incident allegedly took place inside a Coaster bus transporting dignitaries from the airport to the Emir’s Palace for the turbaning of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as Makama Babba 1 of Bauchi Emirate, which also coincided with his daughter’s wedding.

    The high-profile ceremony drew top dignitaries including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

    Sources revealed that tension flared after Tuggar allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Bala Mohammed-led administration; a move that provoked an angry reaction from the deputy governor.

    It was further gathered that it took the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima who stepped in and calmed things down.

    The controversy intensified after the governor’s son, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, reposted Facebook updates hailing Jatau for “defending my father’s honour.”

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    One of the posts in Hausa reads: “Yau deputy govna ya jadada loyaltyn sa wa Baba Kaura, meaning today, the Deputy Governor reaffirmed his loyalty to Baba Kaura (Governor Bala).”

    The clash is believed to be linked to a long-standing political rivalry between Tuggar and Governor Bala.

    Meanwhile, Jatau’s media aide, Muslim Lawal, has denied that any altercation happened, insisting the Deputy Governor is a responsible leader and would never act that way.

    “No, no, no. How can the Deputy Governor slap a minister? I don’t think that ever happened in Bauchi,” he said, challenging anyone with evidence to produce it.

    He maintained that his principal is “a responsible person” who would never engage in such conduct, especially in the presence of the Vice President.

    When contacted, the minister’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, declined comment on the incident, saying that he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

  • Jatau takes gold at World Beach Sambo Championships 

    Jatau takes gold at World Beach Sambo Championships 

    Nigeria’s Charity Jatau claimed the gold medal in the Women’s 50kg event  at her maiden appearance at the World Beach Sambo Championships in Casablanca, Morocco.

    The two-day tournament which ended yesterday had teams and athletes across the world competing for honours in several events,

    Jatau, African Games and Championship gold medallist, was unbeatable in her weight category after defeating  her counterparts from Morocco, Kazakhstan and Romania to capture the gold medal 

    An elated Jatau who was the country’s  sole flag bearer at the global championships,  described the victory as a reward for her hardworking in the last one year while promising to continue to work harder. 

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    “I am so happy to be part of the tournament and I must  thank the Sambo Association of Nigeria (SAN) led by its President Loveth Howells and its Vice President, Sheriff Hammed, for making it possible for me to be here because it was as if I would not be here,” She said.“ But they made frantic efforts through their personal support to ensure that Nigeria is represented in Morocco. It was not easy but with the determination and God’s grace, I triumphed  and I hope my victory would inspire more athletes to embrace Sambo in Nigeria.” 

    For SAN President, attending the tournament has again showed to the world body that Nigeria is ready to embrace the sport as efforts are being made to popularize it.

    In his remarks, Hammed commended the President for her commitment to the sport while pledging to continue to encourage more people to identify with the sport as efforts are been made by the world body to engage the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider Sambo as part of the medal hauling event at the Olympic Games.

  • Jatau regains freedom after 18 months in detention

    Jatau regains freedom after 18 months in detention

    Following outcry from the Christian community in Nigeria over the continued detention of Rhoda Jatau in Bauchi Prison, the mother of five, who had been imprisoned for 18 months for condemning the alleged killing of Samuel Deborah in Sokoto State, has regained her freedom.

    Sources indicate that her release, which occurred last Friday, was facilitated by influential entities including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), and the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria (CSWN).

    Jatau had been held since May 2022 on blasphemy charges for sharing a video condemning the brutal lynching of Deborah, a 200-level student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto.

    Although her bail conditions were not disclosed, it was gathered that the Inter-Religious Council played a vital role in securing Jatau’s release.

    However, it was gathered that the healthcare worker was only temporarily released on bail, and is scheduled to appear in court on November 19 to continue her trial on blasphemy charges filed by the Bauchi State Government.

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    The Nation recalls that the case gained global attention from Christian solidarity groups last month when the judge denied her bail.

    The bail request followed an argument by her defence, asserting that Mrs. Jatau was exercising her right to free speech when she expressed outrage over the murder of Deborah Samuel by Islamic extremists at Shehu Shagari College in Sokoto.

    Samuel was accused of making derogatory comments on a WhatsApp group for students.

    But the State government contends that Mrs. Jatau’s actions amount to blasphemy, a serious offence with potential jail sentences in Bauchi and other northern Nigerian regions.

  • Rhoda Jatau: A call for justice

    Rhoda Jatau: A call for justice

    • By Akinola Ayobami Steven

    Sir: The ongoing trial of Rhoda Jatau, mother of five, underscores a distressing narrative of religious persecution and the complexities surrounding freedom of expression within the nation. Her case, intertwined with the tragic story of Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, highlights the far-reaching implications of legal frameworks and societal attitudes on national unity, security, and development in Nigeria.

    Jatau’s ordeal began in May 2022 when she was imprisoned for allegedly sharing a video on WhatsApp condemning the brutal lynching of Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a fellow Nigerian student murdered by a mob for an alleged blasphemy. Despite the prosecution’s inability to present substantial evidence, the court recently refused to dismiss the case against her, prolonging her unjust detention.

    This situation raises significant concerns not just about individual rights but also about the broader socio-political fabric of Nigeria. Blasphemy laws, in this context, exacerbate tensions among religious groups, stifling open dialogue and impeding the country’s path towards unity.

    Beyond the immediate human rights violations, the implications are manifold. The fear of persecution inhibits free expression and stifles intellectual discourse and societal growth. Furthermore, the erosion of trust in legal institutions and the government’s handling of such cases undermines stability and hampers the nation’s progress.

    In a country of over 200 million people, almost evenly split between Christians and Muslims, the existence of blasphemy laws becomes a significant driver of societal tension. These laws not only punish innocent individuals for expressing their beliefs but also perpetuate a cycle of violence. They fuel brutal mob actions and inflict severe harm on minority Muslims, Christian converts, and others, amplifying the societal discord.

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    Rhoda Jatau’s case is not an isolated incident. It aligns with the broader persecution faced by religious minorities in Nigeria.

    It is imperative for Nigeria’s future to address these challenges head-on. Repealing or amending blasphemy laws, ensuring fair trials, safeguarding freedom of expression, and fostering inclusivity are paramount. These measures will not only secure justice for individuals like Rhoda Jatau but will also contribute to a more harmonious and just society, enhancing national unity, security, and development.

    The world’s eyes are on Nigeria, urging its leadership to take decisive action in protecting the rights of all citizens and ensuring an environment where diversity is celebrated, voices are heard, and justice prevails. Only through such concerted efforts can Nigeria truly achieve its potential as a beacon of unity, progress, and respect for human rights on the African continent.

    • Akinola Ayobami Steven,

    akinolaa61@gmail.com

  • Rhoda Jatau: A confluence of contradictions

    Rhoda Jatau: A confluence of contradictions

    • By Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Sir: Every now and then, in one corner of the country or another, confusion springs up sprinkling its fair share of chaos along the way.

    In May 2022, on flimsy excuses of blasphemy, 22-year-old Deborah Samuel was lynched by a crowd baying for blood in Sokoto State. By the time the smoke cleared enough for anyone to see, the student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto  had been killed in the most agonizing manner possible.

      While her devastated family was forced to collect her bones and ashes and attempt anything resembling a burial decked with dignity, Nigerians wondered aloud what their country was becoming in the face of so much lawlessness laced with lethal religiosity.

     Of course, there were immediate and harsh calls for the prosecution of the killers of Deborah. But more than one year later, they have remained just that—calls that no one has responded to, calls that have gone largely unheeded.

     The grating failure to prosecute the perpetrators of one of Nigeria’s most recent public crimes continues to claim victims.  For one Nigerian woman, Deborah Samuel’s victimhood has become a shared one.

     Since May 2022, Rhoda Jatau has been in detention. Her crime? A WhatsApp video condemning mob action on Deborah Samuel. No sooner had the video shared among her coworkers circulated than the victim also became the perpetrator. 

     The healthcare administrator with the Warji local government in Bauchi, was arrested a few days after forwarding the video condemning the burning to death of Deborah Yakubu.

     Prosecutors allege that by sharing the video, Jatau committed multiple offences of inciting disturbance, contempt for religious creed, and cyberstalking.

     How ironic!  More than a year after the gruesome killing, while the chief perpetrators are at large, a woman who has dared to speak up remains incarcerated.

     Nigeria remains one of those odiously unique countries where justice remains selective, defining its parameters of selection alongside religious and ethnic lines.

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     The danger in letting crimes go unpunished is that the perpetrators soon mark more victims and with time, the victims themselves are marked and perpetrators and their persecution takes wings.

     The gruesome killing of Deborah Samuel invariably set off a chain reaction. Since then, there have been other instances of people being targeted by mobs because of unproven allegations of blasphemy.

     The danger is great if people are allowed to take the law into their own hands and apply it indiscriminately, the society faces the danger of disintegrating bit by bit. 

     A society which lacks basic freedoms is a society that is leaking the rights of its most vulnerable members.  Such a society faces real danger.

     It is an open secret that in Nigeria, many of those awaiting trial have been unjustly accused and incarcerated.  They fill up Nigeria’s overburdened correctional facilities and generally smear a system desperately in need of a facelift.

    In public conversations, Nigeria must ask itself pertinent questions that border on national unity and cohesion as well as national interest.

    It is only a country where everyone can feel safe and secure that can boast of being a developed country.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu,

    Ikewilly9@gmail.com