Fatima Sulaiman, a 16-year-old girl from Sokoto who tragically lost a limb as a result of reckless driving by an underage perpetrator, passionately pleads for justice in a compelling and courageous testimony.
Daily News 24 reports that Sulaiman made the plea while speaking with DW Hausa on Sunday. She expressed sadness over how the boy’s family were unsympathetic and careless about the trauma she and her family went through at the time.
In the video, Fatima narrates her ordeal, thanking Allah for seeing her through the trying times in her life.
“I thank Allah for the strength to see through these trying times in my life. I have witnessed so many things—the ones I relish and the ones I disrelish.” She said.
“I really want justice to be served because what was done to me was not justifiable. Whoever sees what happened to me knows it was recklessness. The boy’s family did not show sympathy at all. That is one of the reasons I want justice, so that it becomes a lesson to others, especially parents who allow their wards to drive recklessly in town.” Fatima added.
In her future dreams, Fatima hints that she wants to become a medical doctor and will continue pursuing her dream despite the incident.
“I have a dream of becoming a doctor, and my situation will not stop me. And by Allah’s grace, I will become one.” She said.
Sulaiman further hailed her parents for the love and care they offered during her trying times, saying, “I thank my parents for seeing me through the odd times. They cared and showed me love that no one had ever shown me. They have done their best to see that I get justice.
“I also wish to thank everyone who has given me support in one way or another. Many have prayed for me too.” She concluded.
How Fatima lost her legs
Fatima attended Khalifa International Model School on Nana Asma’u Road in Sokoto.
After writing their final examination, Fatima and her friends came out from the examination hall amidst jubilation, exchanging contacts and singing autographs.
During this joyful moment, she received a call from her mother, informing her that she was on her way to pick her up.
Fatima and her friends went outside the school grounds to wait for her mother. At that moment, a student from another school arrived in his car to demonstrate some stunt driving.
“I was sitting with my friends when the guy sped up and sprayed stagnant water on us.” We reported him to our school administration, who asked him to leave the area.
“However, instead of heeding their warning, he continued his stunt driving and eventually lost control of the car.” We attempted to flee, but I missed a step and fell, and the vehicle ran over one of my legs, but my two friends escaped unharmed.
“I was then taken to the Trauma Centre of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, where doctors determined that my limb needed to be amputated to save my life,” she explained.
Fatima father’s intervention
Dr. Suleiman Sabah, Fatima’s father, said he was in his office at the Federal Medical Centre Gusau around 2.30pm when his daughter called him with another number.
“When I answered the phone, I heard her crying and saying, ‘Daddy, come back, I’m dying.'” I then asked her what had happened, and she told me that someone had hit her with his car just before the phone rang.
“I called the number again, and the owner explained what had happened to my daughter, and that he and the school administration were transporting her to UDUTH for treatment.” I then attempted to contact her mother, who works at the hospital, but was unsuccessful. So I called someone at the hospital, informed her (the mother), and met them at the trauma centre.
“When I later found her, she told me that one of Fatima’s legs had been severely injured and that the doctors were considering amputating it.” I refused to have my daughter’s leg amputated. I then asked her to connect me with the doctor on call, which she did, and I begged him to do everything he could to save the leg, but he said the damage was irreversible.
“I asked him to put me in touch with the department’s head, Dr Muhammad, who confirmed that they were preparing to wheel her to the operating room for amputation but I asked them to hold on.”
“I called a friend who works at the Orthopaedic Hospital Dala and asked for a picture of the leg; after looking at the pictures, he agreed that the damage was beyond repair and that I should take heart and allow for amputation.” So I gave them my blessing,” he explained.
Stunt driver’s arrest and arraignment in court
The driver was later arrested and arraigned before a magistrate court, which granted him bail.
Concerning bail, the father questioned why the court would grant bail to the driver while his daughter remained in the hospital.
“The parents of the alleged 18-year-old driver showed no remorse for what their child did.” In fact, they’ve only paid my daughter three visits since the incident.
“When I arrived in Sokoto, my lawyer and I sat with the child’s parents at the request of their lawyer, who wanted the matter settled out of court.” We agreed during the meeting that my daughter would be taken abroad to receive the best treatment and an artificial limb.
“Three hospitals were contacted.” We sent all the necessary documents to one in Germany, one in Dubai, and one in England. While we awaited their response, I learned that the case had been transferred to the state’s CID, and that the state Commissioner of Police had summoned us to his office.
“After hearing what we had to say, he faulted the boy and ordered his prosecution.” So I got a call from the police saying that the case would be heard in a magistrate court, and when my lawyer and I went there, we were told that the presiding magistrate ordered the prosecuting police officer to go and amend the charges because they contained culpable homicide.
“From the amended charges, I knew the case was jeopardised because there is no such thing as grievous bodily harm, and the magistrate granted the suspect bail.” We later complained to the state Attorney General, who advised us to file a petition against the magistrate and the police, which we are currently doing,” he said.
Fatima was one of our brilliant students – School Management
When contacted, the school’s spokesman, Mr Ineke Joseph, stated that Fatima was one of their brilliant students who was even pencilled in for an award during their Speech and Prize Giving Day, which has been postponed in her honour.
“Following the incident, we called an emergency meeting of parents, and it was agreed that the event should be postponed until she is fully recovered.” “We hope and pray that she recovers quickly so that she can participate in the event,” he said.
According to Joseph, who described the incident as unfortunate, they were fortunate that there were no more casualties based on what they saw in the accident video.
The police investigation revealed that Fatima was sitting 13 metres away from the main road when the incident occurred, according to him.
“She wasn’t standing or sitting near the main road.” “She was sitting on the stairwell leading to our conference room with a friend,” he added.
Stunt driver not our student – School Management
Mr Jooseph also stated that the driver was not a student of the school and had no connection to the school.
Joseph added that the school had taken both structural and non-structural measures to prevent a repeat of the heinous incident.
“We purchased stone-filled and cement-filled drums.” They would be used to keep the school away from the main road.
“We’ve also contacted the appropriate authorities about the need for speed bumps and zebra crossings,” he said.
