Kano And Isah Ibrahim Maru in Gusau — Randy traditional ruler convicted in Jigawa

The Federal and Sokoto State governments of are poised for a fight over the sharia verdict passed by a Gwadabawa sharia court to stone a woman, Safiya Hussaini to death for committing adultery.

Reacting over a recent statement made by the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige who told a group of Nigerian lawyers based in the United States that the Federal Government would not allow the Sokoto State Government to execute the judgement of the Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, said the Federal Government has no power to stop the death sentence against the convict.

Sanyinna, who contradicted Ige's statement in an interview with the Voice of America, Hausa programme monitored in Maru, Zamfara State, said the Federal Government has no jurisdiction to stop the death sentence passed against Safiya Hussaini.

"For the Attorney General of the Federation to say that the Federal Government would not allow the execution of judgment passed against Safiya for committing the offence is contrary to the constitution of the country," Sanyinna said.

He said the Federal Government has no right to stop his state over the punishment since it has not contradicted the sharia laws in Sokoto State sharia.

According to the Commissioner, following the sentence of the convict, a group of lawyers in the state filed an appeal on behalf of the convict before the Sokoto Sharia Court of Appeal.

Sanyinna stressed further that President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Bola Ige have on different occasions described the sharia legal system being implemented in some states of the federation as legal and constitutional.

"You see, the court that passed the judgment is a court that was recognised by the constitution of this country, therefore no person has the right to change the verdict except the upper sharia court," the commissioner maintained.

It would be recalled that the Gwadabawa sharia court in Sokoto State sentenced Safiya Hussaini to death by stoning following her confession that she committed adultery and gave birth to a baby.

THISDAY gathered that under the sharia, even after the termination of the one month without an appeal from the culprit, the convict will be allowed for some months to wean the baby before the judgment is passed on her.

Meanwhile, a traditional ruler, in Jigawa State, Alhaji Abba Ajiya of Kazaure has been sentenced to one year imprisonment in addition to 40 cane strokes.

An Upper Sharia Court in Kazaure convicted the traditional ruler for unlawfully keeping a housewife, Faiza Bala.

However, the Ajiya was convicted alongside accomplice, Mamuda Lawal and the housewife harboured.

While passing the judgment, the presiding khadi, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu said the offence contravened Section 389 of the panel code.

Expressing disgust at the daily increase in social crimes, Adamu described the offence as serious and is punishable with two years imprisonment as an optimum of N5,000 fine or both.

He said his court based the conviction on the testimony of five witnesses, which includes the husband of the "camped housewife, Mallam Bala Yusuf.

He said during the trial which lasted six weeks, seven love letters were written to Faiza by the traditional ruler.

Other exhibits tendered include sets of clothes given to the housewife by Abba.

He, however, said both Abba and Faiza, should be arraigned before a court of law for special prosecution on the second adultery charge.