Ex-aide sues Aisha Buhari for N100m over illegal imprisonment

Zainab Kassim, a former Special Assistant to the President in the First Lady’s Office, has filed a lawsuit against Aisha Buhari, the President’s wife, seeking the enforcement of her fundamental rights and seeking N100m in damages from her and other defendants.

The Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services are the other respondents in the matter.

The first lady allegedly severely assaulted, dehumanized, and abused Kassim at the presidential villa with the assistance of DSS and police officers in exchange for deleting her social media posts, according to Kassim, who claimed that some Department of State Service officers acting under Aisha’s orders allegedly kidnapped her and took her there.

She requested that the court declare her arrest and imprisonment to be unlawful in the lawsuit with the case number FHC/ABJ/OS/202/2023. A judge has not yet been assigned to the case.

The first lady’s spokeswoman, Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi, could not be reached for comment. Additionally, as of the time this complaint was filed, he has not responded to a message given to him on the situation.