Follow Us on Google
By Lawrence Agbo
An Islamic law scholar at Bayero University Kano, Prof. Dahiru Usman, has clarified that Sharia law does not permit mob justice, stressing that the killing of Deborah Yakubu was not sanctioned under any recognised Islamic legal framework.
Usman made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Morning Brief on Channels Television while speaking on the controversy surrounding Deborah’s death in Sokoto.
Usman stated that even under Sharia, no individual or group is given a blank cheque to arrest, try and execute an accused person extrajudicially.
“Even under Sharia, no offence is given where people are handed a blank cheque to try people and then extrajudicially kill them,” he said.
Other News
He further clarified that Deborah was never arraigned before the Sharia Penal Court in Sokoto State, dismissing claims that her killing was carried out under the state’s Sharia penal code.
According to him, there is widespread misinformation about how Sharia criminal frameworks operate. He explained that Sharia applies strictly to those who profess the Islamic faith, except where a non-Muslim voluntarily submits in writing to be tried under it.
“There is a lot of misinformation regarding Sharia criminal frameworks… Sharia law is only to apply to those who profess the Islamic faith [unless a non-Muslim gives written consent].”
His comments come amid renewed international scrutiny, including discussions in the US Congress recommending the scrapping of Sharia law in Nigeria.
