Human rights activist and investigative journalist, Omoyele Sowore, has made a revelation against the Chief Judge of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, accusing her with back up evidences of illegally acquiring prime public land in the state and using her position to stifle dissent and free speech.
In a detailed post on his official Facebook page on Saturday morning, Sowore posted the documented evidence showing that in 2016, Justice Umar requested the allocation of a prime recreational facility in Bauchi to herself in a private capacity — an action he says contravenes Nigeria’s Land Use Act.
“In 2016, Bauchi Chief Judge Justice Rabi Talatu Umar requested that the best recreation centre in Bauchi be allocated to her in her private capacity, contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act,” Sowore wrote.
According to Sowore, then-Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar approved the request, allegedly justifying the cession by claiming the land was being misused.
“Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar ceded the land to her under the pretext that the public land was being used by ‘hoodlums’ and prostitutes,” Sowore stated.
He further alleged that following the acquisition, the Chief Judge subdivided the land and transferred it to her children.
“Justice Umar then divided the huge land among her four children and obtained a fresh Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for them,” he revealed.
Sowore also claimed that this pattern of misconduct has continued under the current administration led by Governor Bala Mohammed.
“This is the tradition she continued with the current Governor Bala Mohammed and his family, led by Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed,” Sowore wrote, referring to the Governor’s son who has previously been linked to multiple corruption allegations.
The journalist concluded that Justice Umar’s involvement in corrupt land dealings explains why she has become an enabler of state repression in Bauchi.
“This is the reason she is being used to oppress Bauchi citizens and [is] stifling free speech in the state,” Sowore declared.
He ended his statement with a call for justice and the immediate release of detained academic and activist Dr. Abubakar Ahmad, using the hashtag #FreeDrAbubakarAhmadNOW.
As of the time of this report, neither the Chief Judge nor the Bauchi State Government has responded to the allegations.
