How we got involved in Walida’s case – FIDA
Barrister Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko is the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria Abuja Branch. In this interview, she explains their role in the Walida case. How did you get to know about Walida or Chinasa? Okay, sometime last month, I got a call from someone, unfortunately I couldn’t take the call […]
Barrister Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko is the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria Abuja Branch. In this interview, she explains their role in the Walida case.
How did you get to know about Walida or Chinasa?
Okay, sometime last month, I got a call from someone, unfortunately I couldn’t take the call at the time, but when I sent a message for the person to introduce themselves and the reason for the call, the response I got turned out it was a call from someone in the DSS. And eventually when I got to speak with the person later that evening, the person said they were reaching out to me on account of my position as the chair of FIDA and the mandate of the organisation, that there was the case of an alleged abduction of a young girl from Jigawa State and they needed advice on that matter.
So I came in here for that meeting and in the course of that meeting, I sought to interview the young lady purportedly abducted and I did interview her. From the outcome of that interview, it appeared to me that the allegation is not quite true because the young lady was coherent, she was lucid, she spoke to me in a manner that convinced me as to the truth of the account she gave. And she said she was born in 2004 and then the records, the documents I saw from the DSS was one that portrayed her year of birth to be 2004 and then I also saw an authentication from the National Population Commission (NPC), you know, verifying the authenticity of that record.
And then I saw another birth certificate purported to have been procured in December 2025, which purports that her date of birth is in the year 2008. And at face value, except a court order pronounced otherwise, I’m inclined to believe the truth of that birth certificate that puts her year of birth at 2004. So if that is true, it then means that this girl is not underage. It means she’s 22 as we speak now and would have been about 20 at the period of her encounter with the man who is being alleged to have abducted her.
- Walida’s uncle, Badamasi, complicated the matter – Youth council
- Walida’s parents not ready for reconciliation – Youth Assembly
It appears that the State Service set up a committee of sorts in order to find a solution to the problem. Are you aware of that committee?
I’m not aware that we have been officially pronounced a committee, but yes, I’m aware that there is a team of sorts that is deliberating to see that the right outcomes come out of all of this. So, FIDA Nigeria Abuja branch is there. There is a scholar, a lecturer from the BAZE University, who is also an Islamic cleric. And then I reached out to the Muslim Lawyers Association, (Mulan), FCT, and they also sent representation at the meeting that has happened, all towards ensuring that we have a holistic approach to this and then have a well-balanced outcome.
At what time was it agreed to check the mental state of Walida?
I had been at two meetings on this subject and today is the third meeting. But in between, there was another meeting that I did not attend. FIDA Abuja sent a representation of three delegates. And in that meeting, I understand that the lawyer representing the family, after Walida was asked to give an account, the lawyer representing the family sought that Walida’s psychological state be evaluated to confirm that she was speaking from a sound mind, and it was reported to me that it was after that proposition from the lawyer representing Walida father’s family that the meeting resolved to proceed. And that evaluation happened.
But I heard that initially the evaluation ought to have taken place at the National Hospital, but later, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) was brought in and they evaluated her. Are you aware of that?
Again, I said I was not at that particular meeting, but the report reaching me was that yes, that was the resolution at the meeting.
But then again, while not speaking for the Service, because this question may better be put to the Service to answer, if I was at that meeting, I think I would have also preferred that the umbrella body, regulating the medical practitioners in Nigeria would be more suitable to give what I call an independent assessment in such a sensitive case as this. I’m not saying that the National Hospital does not have the pedigree or the integrity to do that, but I’m saying that a neutral body like the umbrella body, of course, would be better.
Today we are here. Walida is here. Officials of the Service are here. You are here from the female FIDA lawyers. We have the National Youth Council of Nigeria. We have the Arewa Youth Assembly. Why are the parents or the lawyers of Walida not here?
Unfortunately, I have not had any direct interactions with them, you know, so I may not also be able to answer that question. But it was also surprising to us because I understand that the date for this meeting was reached unanimously at that last meeting that I told you I was not present. So I’m surprised that after that unanimous resolution for this meeting to happen today, they are not here. I honestly don’t have the answer to that.
So what role did you play as FIDA in the whole of this and what is your conclusion?
The role we have played so far as FIDA is that in accordance with our mandate, which is to protect, preserve and, you know, promote the rights of women and children and other vulnerable persons, is first to interview the girl, the young woman involved, to even hear from her, to ascertain the truth of what has happened, without relying on reported accounts or, maybe contrived petitions and all of that. And after being persuaded on the strength of her account in the course of that interview, FIDA Abuja was of the opinion that we should have an expanded team so that we will have a more balanced outlook in considering all the issues that are raised, particularly the legal issues that I see in the matter. So, of course, you are now aware that it’s not just FIDA Abuja, you’ve mentioned Mulan, the Youth Council of Nigeria,
So what FIDA is doing is looking out for the best interest of Walida and her daughter, because regardless whatever other sensibilities, their best interest is priority for us. And that is FIDA’s role until this is resolved, including legal steps where that becomes a compelling need.
How do you think this problem can be resolved now?
I think the best way to resolve this is to remove personal ego and maybe whatever personal sensitivities. I think those things should be removed from focus. I think that if we should focus on the young lady at the middle of this and then her innocent child, we’d be able to fashion outcomes that would protect their interests. And I say this because if the family of Walida who are now aggressively taking all actions towards, I don’t know, maybe recovering their daughter, if half this measure was even exerted at the time she went missing, it’s possible that Walida would have been found earlier than now. It took the young man being alleged to have abducted her, to even contact the family that they know the whereabouts of Walida.
You are referring to the DSS operative?
Yes, the Ifeanyi guy, yes. I mean, I haven’t met him, but yes, that’s the young man. It took that guy to have preserved Walida from the period he came in contact with her up until this point. Now, I am not making a case for him.
Like I said, I haven’t had an opportunity to interact with him, I do not hold his brief, and I’m not particularly interested in him. My focus as FIDA is Walida and Walida’s daughter. So, if we are mindful of that, now that Walida has been found, on account of this guy still helping Walida to reach out to the family, I’m not going to maybe advise on the religious angles, but just on the basis of the protection of her rights as a human being, can we focus on her well-being?
I am asking because the parents of Walida are agitating that she should be released to them. Do you make of that?
It’s good that Walida is sitting in this room and she can answer for herself, but I’ll tell you what Walida told me and the promise I made to her. After the second meeting that I came for, when I was leaving, Walida intercepted me on my way out and said, please Ma, can I talk to you? I said, okay. She led me out of hearing from other people, and she said, please Ma, don’t let them force me to go back there. If I go back there, they will kill me. I know what I’m telling you, Ma, don’t let them force me, I don’t want to go back. And looking at the vulnerability of her demeanour, as she spoke to me, there is no parent, much more a mother that will see that naked vulnerability and not seek to rise in defence of her, protecting her.
And I made her a solemn promise that whatever I can do to ensure that she’s protected, I will do it.
Finally, we heard that the parents have gone to court. Are you thinking of being part of the proceedings?
Of course, to any extent that it affects the interest of Walida, to any extent that we have to protect and promote and preserve her rights, FIDA will be there the whole hog.