Acting Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko has said that Safiya Hussaini Tudu, 36 year old single mother who was convicted of the sin of adultery will face the full wrath of the law should her appeal at the Sokoto State Sharia Court of appeal fails.

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corpora-tion, Wamakko said that Sokoto State is a muslim state and therefore surports what "Allah says in his Holy Book and this is without consideration to what people say or think." Below is the text of the interview:

A sharia court convicted a woman of adultery and sentenced her to death by stoning, does your government approve of this?

Government supports whatever Allah says we should do. As you are aware, Sokoto State is an Islamic State and we are governed by what Allah says and no body can stop us. She has appealed, so let us wait for the outcome of her appeal.

As the chief executive of the state you have the power of the prerogative of mercy. Would you lay it at her disposal if the appeal fails?

Let's wait first until the appeal is heard and judgement given. But my personal will can not supercede that of Allah.

What is your personal view. In the 21st century, do you think that such a law is right?

What I think does not matter. The word is the command and as a muslim, I subcribe.

Do you think the law is justifiable going by the level of poverty in the land?

Poverty is in Europe. There is poverty in America. Poverty is everywhere. The case is that it is the demand of Allah

Safiya, convicted of adultery, and who received a reprieve last week from a sharia court of appeal had cried out Wednesday for justice to be done to her.

Speaking to British Broadcasting Corporation African Service, Safiya said. "There was no justice. I was seduced by a man and that man was asked to be set free while I am being purnished. I want to get justice", she said..

Safiya who was due to be stoned, last week Wednesday got a reprieve from the Sokoto State Sharia Court of Apeal. The appellate court, headed by Sokoto State's acting Grand Khadi, Alhaji Muhamadu Bello, assisted by three other Khadis, at its sitting, granted a stay of execution of the death sentence until Safiya's ground of appeal was heard and thrashed.

Safiya was last October convicted of the sin of adultery by the Upper Sharia Court 1 Gwadebawa in Sokoto State and was sentenced to death by stoning.

Delivering the judgement on the case, the presiding judge, Muhammed Bello Sanyinnawal said the verdict passed on Safiya was based on her admission of fornication even as a married woman.

Sanyinnawal ruled that the convict would be stoned to death when she weans her baby, adding that she would not be under prison custody but must produce herself to the court for the judgement to be executed on her.

He said that if the convict refused to appear before the court after the period of grace given to her, the police with the assistance of the general public should force her to the court.

Soon after the judgement, Safiya disappeared and was recently re-arrested. But her trial and conviction has once again drawn the ire of local and international human rights organisations with women groups challenging the rationale of a law which convicts the adulterer and leaves the partner unpurnished.

Her case has even brought the Federal and Sokoto State Governments at cross roads. The Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige told a group of Nigerian Lawyers recently in the United States that the Federal Government would not allow Sokoto State Government to execute the judgement of the sharia court.

However, while reacting on the statement of Chief Ige, Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Aliyu Abubarkar said the Federal Government has no power to stop the death sentence against the convict.

According to him, the Federal Government had no jurisdition to stop the death sentence.

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