27th November, 2023
Reprieve may come the way of a convict who has been languishing in Kano jail, waiting for his leg and hand to be cut for 18 years after he was convicted of the offence of stealing by a Shari’a Court
A Shari’a Court in Kano had ordered that the left leg and right hand of the unnamed convict should be cut off after declaring him guilty of the theft allegations.
However, the convict had stayed for 18 years in Kano Correctional Center without the execution of the sentence.
His plight has now attracted the plight of Grand Khadi of Kano State Dr Tijjani Ibrahim-Yakasai.
Ibrahim-Yakasai set up a committee to review the case while also granting bail to 147 offenders with minor offences in two custodial centres in the state, according to a statement by Nigerian Correctional Service Kano Command’s Spokesperson, SC Musbahu Kofar-Nassarawa, on Monday in Kano.
He said that the decision was to decongest and free those languishing in the custodial centres in the state.
According to him, the committee comprises six judges, headed by an Upper Sharia Court Judge, Malam Ibrahim Sarki-Yola.
“A Kano Shari’a Court had earlier ordered the amputation of a convict’s left leg and right hand in its judgment for committing theft.
“The committee will review the case for staying 18 years in Kano Correctional Center without executing the sentence.”
Ibrahim-Yakasai urged the released inmates to be of good behaviour and shun any form of misconduct that may lead to their return to the correctional facilities.
On his part, the Controller of Corrections, Kano Command, Mr Suleiman Mohammed-Inuwa, thanked the Grand Khadi for decongesting the facilities in the state.
He urged the released inmates to be of good behaviour and exemplary character to others.
Some states in Northern Nigeria adopted and practice Shari’s law with harsh punishments including amputation and stoning to death of convicts.
The first amputation in the country as a punishment for stealing was carried out in Zamfara State when one Jangebe was amputated for allegedly stealing cattle.
There have been cases of persons stoned to death by Muslims in states in Northern Nigeria for allegedly committing blasphemy by riotous crowds claiming to be implementing Sharia law.