Court bars police from presenting DNA result in Ex-minister’s case
The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Nigerian Police Force from using a DNA test result as evidence in a paternity dispute involving former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, and Hadiza Baffa.
The court issued the order in response to an ex-parte motion filed by Turaki, who is challenging claims by Baffa that he is the father of her child.
Baffa had earlier petitioned the police, leading to Turaki’s arraignment on February 6, 2025, at an Abuja Magistrate Court on charges including false marriage, adultery, and criminal intimidation under the Penal Code.
In his application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/244/2025, Turaki asked the court to prevent the police, the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rita Oki Oyintare, and Baffa from presenting or relying on any DNA test result allegedly taken on November 5, 2024.
He argued that he had already filed a related suit against Baffa—CV/35/2024 on June 24, 2024, seeking a declaration to permanently stop her from claiming she was married to him or that her child belonged to him.
Turaki also told the court that Baffa had sent several petitions to the police on the matter.
According to him, “despite the ongoing case in court, I was invited by DCP Oyintare and pressured to submit to a DNA test to prove the paternity of Baffa’s daughter.”
The court granted the interim injunction, effectively halting the police from using the DNA result until the substantive case is heard.
