allAfrica.com: Nigeria: No Sharia Law Without Penal Code - Gov Aliyu

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: No Sharia Law Without Penal Code - Gov Aliyu

ership (Abuja)
Nigeria: No Sharia Law Without Penal Code - Gov Aliyu

Abu Nmodu

6 July 2010

Minna — Niger State governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, has said that sharia law cannot be practised unless there exists a shariah penal code enacted by the state House of Assembly.

Speaking at a workshop on the proposed shariah penal code law for the state, Dr. Aliyu said as muslims, the proper meaning of shariah must be understood and its significance be applied in their daily lives to avoid the misconceptions given to shariah implementation in the country.

"There had been so many misconceptions about shariah by many people in all parts of the country, including muslims, we need to understand that many things that we take for granted such as failing to keep promises, coming late to appointments, deceit and telling lies are violations of shariah," he declared.

He explained further that the survival of democracy depended not only on credible election, but must also depend on sound judicial system and the rule of law, saying there was no way democracy could survive in a confused and chaotic legal system.
Relevant Links

On this ground, the governor stated that his administration found it expedient to reconstitute the state Judicial Service Commission established by law to give all necessary support to the judiciary in the state.

He therefore, commended the efforts of the law reform commission, in liaising with Islamic jurists both within and outside the state, the council of Ulamas and other stakeholders in collecting vital views towards amending shariah administration law 2001 in the state..

The governor noted that what he inherited in 2007 could be termed as a hybrid version of shariah and common law in the state "bein applied in the guise of shariah law."