The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Shari’a law

  • PDP shedding crocodile tears over Plateau killings – Presidency

    The Presidency on Thursday said that the sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend is been used to play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PDP has declared seven days of mourning.over the killings.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said “These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind. But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.

    “The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.

    “A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:

    “November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.

    “Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.

    “In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.

    “Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half mast.

    “In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.

    “Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.

    “In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word.

    Read Also: Plateau Killings: Residents on guard against attack

    “In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.” he said

    Boko Haram killings in PDP years, he said, were over 10,000 while PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.

    He added “Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under PDP than under President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be unconscionable to do so.

    “The intendment of this statement is to show that wanton killings had been with us for awhile; this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so.

    “Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics. Those who wont to do so should have change of hearts, or lose their very humanity.” he said.

  • Hisbah Board arrests 21 beggars in one week – Official

    Hisbah Board arrests 21 beggars in one week – Official

    Kano State Hisbah Board said on Tuesday that it had arrested 21 beggars for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state in one week.

    Malam Umar Yahaya, the Public Relations Officer of the Board, disclosed this while speaking in Kano.

    Yahaya said that the suspects were arrested in different raids in the metropolis, adding that eight of them were children, while 13 were adults.

    The public relations officer explained that the arrests were carried out in areas around Bata, Bank and Kabuga roads.

    He added that the board had released 11 of them after being identified as first time offenders, while the rest 10 were taken to court.

    Yahaya enjoined beggars to acquire vocational skills to sustain themselves rather than rely on street begging for livelihood.

    Hisbah is the enforcement arm of Sharia Law.

    NAN

  • Report: negative practices against women in North persist despite Sharia law

    Fifteen years after the introduction of Sharia law in some states in the north, the negative cultural and other practices affecting women persist despite its implementation, a report released by the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Project (NSRP) has said.

    According to the five part reports, female poverty in the states where Sharia is being practiced remains at a generally high level despite Zakat and Endowment Commissions giving much of their allocations to women, especially widows.

    Human Rights lawyer, Prof Mohammed Tabiu, presented the report in Abuja.

    Oxford University scholar, Prof Abdul Mustapha, described the implementation of the law in some states where Sharia law is practiced as very problematic.

    Mustapha stated that the implementation of the law in some states had generated human rights issues.

    The report said: “The two main ways Sharia implementation has affected women’s access to justice is through Sharia courts and through hisbah.

    “Sharia implementation affected women’s access to justice through the Sharia court, functioning as the primary forum for litigating and resolving personal disputes, and through hisbah, in its role as mediation and disciplinary institution.

    According to the report, some negative cultural and other practices affecting women persist despite Sharia implementation in some states in the north.

     “There are issues of women and rights. There are issues of non-Muslims. There are also issues of non-Muslims who disagree with some of the issues. So, there are a number of human rights issues.

    “One of the main recommendations that we are suggesting is that though Sharia has been quite positive, it needs to be made much more sensitive within multicultural, multi religious context in which it is happening. Some of our recommendations go in that direction.

  • Try Yarima under Sharia Law

    SIR: Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima is currently standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on misappropriation of public funds. The said money was a bank loan meant for the repair of the collapsed Gusau Dam and payment of compensation to victims affected by the incident.

    The collapse of Gusau Dam resulted in a flooding which washed away farmlands, hundreds of houses, livestock and properties worth billions of naira and not without attendant loss of human lives.

    The two-term governor, currently a returnee senator became the first governor to implement Sharia law in his state on January 27, 2000. Since the adoption of the Islamic Sharia legal system, hundreds of Zamfara citizens and residents have been tried and sentenced according to the tenets and provision of Sharia law.

    Even when it became clear that Sharia law as practiced and implemented by Zamfara State government under Ahmed Sani Yarima was merely for the poor and helpless citizens, the administration insisted on carrying on with it to the exclusion of the high and mighty in the society.

    It is injustice against the good people of Zamfara State, particularly the hundreds of people who have been prosecuted and convicted by Sharia law for Yarima to be tried in a conventional court. He should be prosecuted and charged under the same Islamic law that he used for the people of the state. That is justice!

     

    • Hussain Obaro,

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • Niger reviews Shari’a law

    The Shari’a legal system in Niger State is being reviewed to meet the challenges, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdullahi Wuse, has said.

    He said government would  extend the system from the handling of civil matters to criminal cases, to make it more transparent and free from abuse.

    Wuse, who spoke in Minna yesterday, said the government’s action was informed by the need to incorporate the issues concerning the people.

    He said: “We find it expedient to make the Shari’a legal system more compliant with the present realities as covered by the Islamic documents.”

    The commissioner added: “The review will take cognisance of issues, such as child rights and abuse, street begging, as well as corruption.”

    He recalled the setback suffered in the prosecution of an Islamic cleric, who married over four wives, for lack of  provision of the Shari’a laws.”