Supposedly, a monarch assaults and infects a female with HIV.

Umar Ibrahim, the Village Head of Dan Gulam in the Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, is under suspicion for allegedly raping Hanatu Yahaya (whose actual name is not known) and subsequently impregnating and infecting her with HIV.

Senior State Counsel in the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice, Kabiru Abdullah Esq., communicated this information to the Secretary of the Dutse Emirate Council, Dutse Emir’s Palace, via letter dated October 16, 2023. The letter was titled “Notification of arraignment of Umar Ibrahim (Village Head of DanGulam) on the charge of rape contrary to section 3 (1) (A and D) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021.”

Daily Trust reports that the monarch denied the allegation in an interview with our correspondent.

Reports suggested that the emirate was under pressure to conceal the matter, notwithstanding appeals and intervention by the state government via the office of the Attorney General.

Based on the correspondence, it is stated that the village chief filed a defamation of character suit in the Upper Shari’a Court of Gwaram against the girl, her father, and one Sule Umar from Dangulam village.

Umar Ibrahim, according to an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Jigawa State Police Command, was charged with criminal conspiracy and rape.

The letter states, “The Honourable Attorney General of Jigawa State has instructed me to write and apprise your Highness of the following: Ya’u Muhammad’m’ has filed a complaint at the Office of the Honourable Attorney General alleging rape and infection with HIV. In the complaint, he claims that Umar Ibrahim, the Village Head of Dan Gulam, engaged in an illicit sexual encounter with his daughter, which culminated in her becoming pregnant and contracting HIV.”

“Participating parties were invited upon receipt of the complaint, and during a discussion with the Honourable Attorney General, Umar Ibrahim (the village chief) disclosed that he had initiated legal proceedings in the Upper Shari’a Court Gwaram against the girl, her father, and one Sule Umar of Dan Gulamvillage on charges of defamation.

“As ordered by the Attorney General, the Upper Sharia Court in Gwaram case was transferred to the state CID Dutse for investigation of both incidents; all parties involved were referred to the latter.”

“Subsequent to the state CID police investigation, the case diary was forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for legal counsel.”

“The legal counsel provided an analysis which unveiled a prima facie case of criminal conspiracy and rape against Umar Ibrahim, a traditional leader and village head of Dan Gulam, Gwaram Local Government Area, Jigawa State, much to the dismay of the Honourable Attorney General.”

“In light of the foregoing and the fact that he is scheduled to appear in court for prosecution shortly, and to prevent his arraignment as a traditional leader.”

“The Honourable Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice instructed me to write and apprise Your Highness of the status of the case in order to facilitate the implementation of suitable measures, in light of the aforementioned information.”

In the interim, the family of the girl who was injured is urging non-governmental organisations and civil society to intervene in order to safeguard her life and ensure that justice is served in accordance with the VAPP Law 2021 of Jigawa State.

The village chief, however, denied any responsibility for the girl’s pregnancy.

He stated that the initial case did not involve rape, but rather a dispute regarding a parcel of land he assigned to the former local government chairman.

“I am being blackmailed by them.” They fabricated the accusation that I was pregnant for this reason. The damsel was unknown to me; I have never even encountered her in my entire existence.

“Since I wed an infected widow ten years ago, I have been contaminated with HIV. They claim that is why they contaminated that child, but I vehemently deny any involvement.”