Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu tackled each other on Twitter over the Governor, Atiku Bagudu’s alleged refusal to confirm the state’s former acting Chief Judge, Justice Elizabeth Asabe Karatu.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, the controversial Fani-Kayode wrote: “Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi surprises me. How can the son-in-law of the great Marafan Sokoto of blessed memory and husband to the beautiful Zainab refuse to confirm the Acting CJ of his state because she is Christian and then fire her for complaining? Is it a crime to be Christian?”
Karatu had petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging that she was denied her rights to confirmation because she is a Christian.
See tweet:
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi surprises me. How can the son-in-law of the great Marafan Sokoto of blessed memory and husband to the beautiful Zainab refuse to confirm theActing CJ of his state because she is Christian and then fire her for complaining?Is it a crime to be Christian?
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) June 14, 2019
A Twitter user, Dr. Musa Hatim Koko, berated the ex-minister for linking the governor to Karatu’s case.
He said, “It is not correct to assume this position of Kebbi State Government or link Dr Zainab’s family. The immediate past CJ of Kebbi State was Christian and from the same zone. Appointing her is not new in Kebbi. We live peacefully so do not infest on us your virus and please spread the truth always.”
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Responding to Koko’s tweet, the governor’s wife wrote: “Pls don’t bother answering Femi. That’s what he wants. Attention.”
See tweets:
https://twitter.com/DrZSB/status/1139997923276668933
Fani-Kayode however hit back at the governor’s wife for calling him an attention seeker.
He wrote: “Stop dreaming and fantasising Zainab. I don’t want your attention, I couldn’t give a damn about you and I don’t DO other people’s wives so stop getting all worked up and getting your knickers in a twist! All I want is for Atiku to explain why he refused to confirm the Acting CJ. Tell him!”
See tweet:
Stop dreaming and fantasising Zainab.I don't want ur attention,I couldn't give a damn about u and I don't DO other people's wives so stop getting all worked up and getting ur knickers in a twist!All I want is for Atiku to explain why he refused to confirm the Acting CJ.Tell him! https://t.co/COUNuUm6h8
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) June 16, 2019
However, the state governor has since distanced himself from the accusations of refusing to seek confirmation of Karatu as the state’s Chief Judge.
Bagudu swore in Justice Suleiman Ambursa as Acting Chief Judge of the state on Friday, after the State House of Assembly refused to confirm Karatu as substantive Chief Judge.
The governor said, “It baffles me when I read a story on social media that I did not forward Karatu’s name for confirmation because of her religion.
“If you could recall, I re-submitted the name of Karatu for the second time on June 2, 2018 to the House for confirmation as Chief Judge.
“I was informed that on Aug. 1, 2018, the House refused to confirm her appointment over alleged alteration of her date of birth and primary school certificate.”
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Abdulmumeen Kamba, corroborated the governor’s statement, adding that only the state assembly could confirm the Chief Judge’s appointment.
“It is worthy to note that the former Chief Judge of the state before Karatu was of Christian faith.
“Kebbi state is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state and every faith or ethnicity is treated equally,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Kamba as saying.
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