Walida’s uncle, Badamasi, complicated the matter – Youth council
Bello Shehu Tijjani represents the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in the case of Walida. He shares their views. How did you get to know about Walida? Yes, we received a call from the DSS, that we should come to the office, that they want us to be part of a civil society […]
Bello Shehu Tijjani represents the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in the case of Walida. He shares their views.
How did you get to know about Walida?
Yes, we received a call from the DSS, that we should come to the office, that they want us to be part of a civil society and as an organisation that is representing the youth.
Have you met with the parents of Walida?
Yes, we met her parents during our last meeting.
What exactly do they really want in your view?
During one of the meetings, we were told that the uncle (Badamasi) was contacted to come and meet Walida, but the statement he made was that he would rather go with her dead body than to go with Walida and her daughter. But at the last meeting where the parents and the uncle came together, where we met them for the first time, we were asked to discuss with them in respect to what they want, and they said they want to go with Walida and her daughter.
Were you privy to the medical examination carried out on her by the NMA?
At the last meeting, since Walida herself has been confirmed not to be a minor, and constitutionally, she is above 18 years of age, she has a right to make her own decision based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We agreed that a decision should be made that day, but the lawyer from the family side made an observation that medical examination should be carried out on Walida to check the state of her mental health, whether what she is saying or what she is going to say is not under duress or she is in her right senses. So, it was agreed that it should be postponed, pending when there is a medical examination on Walida.
You have been called here today, but the parents of Walida are not around. What do you make of it?
I’m actually very surprised that they are not here because they are the ones that suggested that the meeting should be postponed pending when there will be an examination on Walida, whether her state of mental health is alright. I’m very surprised because I believe since we have been invited to be part of this case, which I feel is something that has tested my faith and everything, because it’s something that needs to be carefully discussed considering what is being said outside is not what we found out from Walida.
Do you think it’s time for the State Service to release her to her parents?
I think from the whole situation and from my own observation from all the meetings that we’ve had, that the case of Walida is that of abandonment. I would like to say that she’s a victim of neglect from the family.