Yusha'u Adamu Ibrahim & Shehu Abubakar
10 February 2006
Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has described the banning of Hisbah Guards as unconstitutional even as he stressed that the Sharia implementation body (Hisbah) will continue operating in the state.
In a swift reaction to the announcement by the Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, banning the Hisbah guards yesterday, Governor Shekarau challenged the federal government to take the matter to court.
"We have heard the Inspector General of Police's announcement but to us, we have followed constitutional due process before Hisbah was established and the law that constitutionally gave us right to form Hisbah is still in existence and therefore, Hisbah will continue operating in the state," he said.
Governor Shekarau also emphasised that, "in a democratic regime, if any Government or individual felt that a particular law which was constitutionally established was wrongly formulated, such government or individual has only two alternatives: that is either go to court to challenge it or through the Assembly.
Shekarau therefore said as far as Kano state government was concerned the Inspector-General's announcement is unconstitutional and unacceptable and therefore, the state government will not obey it.
He therefore charged the police and other security agencies in the state to continue adhering to any law established constitutionally at all levels, adding that Kano state government will continue in its efforts to ensure the full implementation of the Sharia legal system in the state.
Shekarau who called for calm, stated that government will follow due process in the pursuit of its constitutional rights. He said the people of Kano state have chosen the Sharia legal system to run their affairs and it is therefore imperative on the state government to ensure it since it does not contradict the nation's constitution.
The governor who also assured that government will follow due process to return the command of Hisbah, warned that the government and the people of Kano state are fully aware that some undersirable element who are always against the progress of the state.
Meanwhile, earlier before the governor's reaction in a live broadcast, the state's Hisbah commandant, Sheikh Yahaya Faruk Chedi and his deputy were arrested by the police.
An impeccable source at the state's police command who confirmed the arrest, said that the two have already been taken to Abuja for questioning.
Reacting to the arrests, the state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said that the duo are employers of the state government whose consent the federal government adding that their arrests is illegal.
Daily Trust however learnt that the banning of the Hisbah may not be unconnected with statement made by the former Kano state governor, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso which compared the Hisbah guards to the dreaded Odua Peoples Congress (OPC).
Daily Trust correspondent who visited the Hisbah headquarters along Sharada, Kano road discovered that activities of the organisation continued as usual.
However, when contacted for comments, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Haz Iwendi, a deputy commissioner of police, confirmed the arrest, adding "the clampdown on all illegal operators of such outfits has started. The clamp down has just started," he said," he said.
He explained that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, had earlier warned that the force will not tolerate the existence of groups like the Hisba and Bakassi boys, as according to him, their operation and activities are un-constitutional.
He did not however comment on the out lawed Yoruba militia group, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), or give the number of people arrested so far.
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