Crime Facts

Case Against Blasphemy In Nigeria By Leo Igwe

Nigeria’s blasphemy laws have been of focus locally, nationally and internationally following the arrest and detention of Nigerian humanist, Mubarak Bala, the sentencing to death of a Muslim singer, and the imprisonment of a 13- year-old boy for blasphemy in Kano State in Northern Nigeria. It would appear that Muslim theocrats – within the police and the courts – have gone to great lengths to subvert constitutional provisions and international human rights norms in their quest to enforce the ‘blasphemy’ provision. For instance, the police arrested Bala, who is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, at his residence in Kaduna on April 28, They took him to Kano the following day, where they have held him incommunicado ever since. The arrest was at the instance of lawyers who lodged a petition with the Kano State Police Command complaining that Bala had insulted the prophet of Islam in a Facebook post. Before his arrest, Bala received death threats from Muslims who were angry over his posts and comments on Facebook, including a Kano State police officer. Police have failed to meet their Constitutional obligation to charge Bala within 48 hours of his arrest. Efforts to enforce Bala’s rights have met a brick wall. The police have not given Bala access to a lawyer. They have not formally charged him in court. There is no information regarding where he is held or the condition of his detention. There is no independent confirmation that Bala is still alive. Bala has a wife and a 6-month old son. His wife has petitioned the police and the parliamentarians urging them to give her access to her husband without success. Kano is among the 12 states that uphold Sharia laws in Northern Nigeria and is notorious for jailing or murdering alleged blasphemers or desecrators of the Quran. Under Sharia law, the punishment for ‘blasphemy’ is death; however, in the parallel Common Law system, the same crime is seen as a misdemeanour punishable by up to two years in prison. In Northern states allegations of ‘blasphemy’ can end in the extrajudicial killing of the accused. In the case of Bala, the police and government in Kano State are in a dilemma. They are unable to try Bala in a Sharia court and sentence him to death as many individuals in Kano are demanding. Only Muslims are subject to Sharia law; Bala is not a Muslim. He was born into a Muslim family but Bala renounced Islam in 2014. If the police must try Bala, it would be in a secular state court, not in a Sharia court. Even if the sentence is passed on Bala, the penalty would not placate the extremist base that is behind the petition. So, it would appear that, instead of prosecuting Mubarak Bala as required by law, the police and government in Kano disappeared him to appease the Muslim majority base. In the cases of the 22-year old singer, Yahaya Aminu-Sharif and 13-year-old Umar Farouq, the allegations of ‘blasphemy’ have been handled differently. Both are Muslims and were tried and sentenced in Sharia courts. Aminu-Sharif was accused of insulting the Prophet of Islam in a song that he circulated on Whatsapp in March. His ‘offense’ was that they lyrics suggested that the Senegalese scholar, Ibrahim Nyass, was greater than Prophet Muhammad. Whilst Farouq was accused of making remarks that insulted the Islamic god, Allah. Even though Aminu-Sharif has 30 days to appeal, some Muslim bodies, like the Muslim Lawyers Association, the Council of Imams, and the Supreme Council for Sharia have issued statements urging the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to immediately authorize the execution of Aminu-Sharif. If some counter pressure is not brought to bear on the Kano State Governor, Aminu-Sharif will be executed. Or he may, as in the case of other members of the Sufi Order convicted for blasphemy in 2015, be left to languish in jail Nigeria is a religiously pluralistic country in which an individual’s ethnicity has a bearing on religious demographics. The Hausa-Fulani ethnic group, which is most populous in Northern Nigeria, are predominantly Muslim while the Igbo, a major ethnic group in the south is predominantly Christian. Meanwhile no single religion is in the majority throughout the country. Muslims, who are in the majority in the north are in the minority in Southern Nigeria. Whilst Chirstians, who are in the majority in Southern Nigeria, are in the minority in the north. Nigeria has a volatile ethno- religious mix and ethno-religious violence often erupts. The application of ‘blasphemy’ laws reinforces ethno-religious hatred and intolerance. Nigeria needs to repeal laws that legitimize religious violence, oppression, and persecution. ‘Blasphemy’ laws are enshrined in both the Sharia and state penal codes. However, these laws are seldom invoked, except in the Muslim dominated states in Northern Nigeria. ‘Blasphemy laws are incompatible with human rights, tolerant pluralism and peace. ‘Blasphemy’ is a victimless crime. ‘Blasphemy’ laws make a mockery of the justice system in Nigeria because laws are there to protect individuals, and not to protect ideologies, beliefs or dogma however important these may be to people. Laws are made to guarantee and not violate the rights of human beings. Incidentally, blasphemy laws are used to flagrantly deny basic human rights, including the rights to life, freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of expression. As the cases of Bala, Aminu-Sharif and Farouq have shown, blasphemy laws sanctify religious tyranny and impunity. They are used to legitimize the oppression of minorities, to justify extrajudicial murder, arson, and attacks. ‘Blasphemy’ laws are only a legal recipe for chaos, anarchy, and conflicts in Nigeria. In the interest of peace, justice, and progress, Nigeria should abolish these unjust, incoherent and archaic laws.

Gunmen abduct JSS students in Kaduna, kill one

Final year students of Prince Academy, Kaduna, have been abducted by gunmen on Monday. Report had it that they invaded Damba-Kasaya community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. One local was killed, as vigilante tried to pursue the gunmen in the bush. Journalists were told that the bandits on motorbikes stormed the community at about 8am. “They abducted many of the villagers before storming Prince Academy, to abduct Junior Secondary School (JSS3) students who were receiving lessons, preparatory to their final exams.’ “One of the villagers was killed when they were pursuing the bandits, ‘Bawa Wakili, a resident of the community, said. “They came in large numbers ike they always do and were shooting sporadically. They destroyed musical and public address system worth thousands of naira in Aminchi Baptist Church. The security situation in rural communities is bad aid I relocated to Damba-Kasaya a couple of months ago after herdsmen sacked our village, Rumana Gbagyi also in Chikun LGA.” “I cannot say how many people were kidnapped, but they went away with many people,” he said.

Buhari approves appointment of Executive Council Members of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of the Governing Council and appointment of Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019. According to the Act, the Commission shall be headed by a Part-Time Chairman and six Members who shall be Persons with Disabilities representing the geo-political zones of the federation subject to confirmation of the Senate for a four-year term of office in the first instance, and may be reappointed for a second term of four years and no more. The Executive Secretary, who shall be responsible to the Council for the implementation of the policies and administration of the daily affairs of the Commission, shall also be a Person with Disability with a five-year tenure in the first instance, and may be reappointed for a second term and no more. Below are the names, designations and geo- political zones of members of the Management of the Commission: Hon. Dr Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa – Chairman –North West. Oparaku Onyejelam Jaja – Member – South East. Philomena Isioma Konwea – Member – South South. Omopariola Busuyi Oluwasola – Member – South West Amina Rahma Audu – Member – North West Mrs Esther Andrew Awu – Member – North Central. Abba Audu Ibrahim – Member – North East. James David Lalu – Executive Secretary – North Central.

Imo community begs Uzodimma over waste evacuation

Residents of Owerri , the capital of Imo State , have appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma and other relevant authorities in the state to expedite action on evacuating the heaps of refuse on the MCC /Uratta Road and other residential areas in the metropolis . They said the repulsive odour oozing from the refuse posed health hazards to them. A resident , Mr Hycinth Uwadioke, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the refuse heaps had been there for weeks. Uwadioke, a bricklayer , said the refuse on the MCC / Uratta Road posed health hazard to his family, adding that his three children had been admitted to hospital for three times. He stated that the refuse heap on the road had made the metropolis filthy , disturbed the free flow of traffic and affected business activities in the area . Uwadioke said , “ Many residential buildings are around the refuse dump on the road . Many of our children have fallen sick of infection with abdominal disorder, malaria and typhoid , among others . Personally, I have spent my hard – earned money in hospitals . “ My children cannot sleep without the generator being put on to power the fan to drive away the repulsive odour and mosquitoes . We are sending a Save – Our- Soul message to the governor to help us.” Another resident , who simply identified himself as Chief , said leaving the refuse on the road and near residences was wickedness and negligence on the part of the state government . He stated that prior to now, the area was never a refuse dump, and blamed the failure to evacuate the waste on the Imo State Waste Management Agency . Another resident of Ebikoro , Mrs Nkechi Osuji, implored the governor and the waste management agency to clear the refuse so as to save the residents of untimely death. When contacted on the telephone , an aide of the Chairman of the ISWMA, who spoke on condition of anonymity , urged the residents to help the government by dumping their refuse at designated areas. She said the volume of waste at different spots on the road was shocking as the agency had evacuated the garbage last week . “ The residents started dumping refuse there on their own volition. People should join hands with the governor and the ISWMA to sanitise the environment. We shall ensure that the dirt is evacuated within the shortest possible time , but people should help themselves , while the ISWMA does the needful ,” she stated.

Mali: Military, ECOWAS talks end in deadlock

Talks between West African nations and Mali’s new junta ended on Monday without a deal on how the country should return to civilian rule following last week’s coup, the two sides said. Separately, they also said that ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita — whose return to office had been initially demanded by the regional bloc ECOWAS — no longer wished to resume duties. The August 18 coup triggered shockwaves among Mali’s neighbours, fearing that one of the region’s most volatile countries would spiral into chaos. ECOWAS — the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States — sent a high-level delegation to Bamako on Saturday, led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, to press its demands for the “immediate return to constitutional order.” The talks have focussed on the transition to civilian rule. “There were discussions on both sides, given that at this stage nothing has been set down, nothing has been decided, and that as far as we are concerned, the final architecture of the transition will be discussed and defined by us,” said the junta’s spokesman, Colonel Ismael Wague. Jonathan said: “We have agreed on a number of issues, but there are some issues that we have not agreed. So on those issues we told the military officers the thinking of ECOWAS and we asked them to go and review.”

#Op_Ed :The Continued servitude in Kano and the need for a quick end to it

Ibe Pascal Chinedu Arogorn It is implausible to imagine on how some people in kano state Nigeria have been Chained for years in a locked place filled with darkness by their relations. On August 14,Crimefacts News reported how a 32-year-old Kano man, Ahmad Aliyu who had been locked in a room by his father and stepmother for over seven years, was rescued by the police..The victim was chained and caged after being accused of drug abuse by his parents.The video of the rescued kano man went viral on Friday morning in Kano, showing how the police rescued him from the cage where he is said to have lived for 7 years. On August 21,Crimefacts News also reported how 55-year-old Murtala Muhammad had been in chains for 30 years before he was rescued by the police in Kano at Rogo Village.There are indications that Muhammad had been chained by his family for mental health reasons.Muhammad, a resident of Kofar Fada in Rogo Local Government Area of ​​Kano State, was rescued by the police and Human Rights Network on Thursday. On 16 August, ThisDay gathered how another man was allegedly held captive by his father for 15 years.His father, Mallam Lawan, is a Friday mosque chief imam.The victim was rescued by the Police Medical Team and operatives of Operation Puff Adder. On 22 August, Crimefacts also reported how a 6 year-old orphan was held captive by his stepmother for 12 in Kano .It was gathered that the father had been arrested in connection with the inhumane act while the stepmother had fled..The orphan boy who was said to be left under the care of his stepmother since he lost his mum a couple of years back. In all this inhumane and evil acts in Kano state ,Kano state government have not acted swifty by setting up laws, bodies to tackle this cannibalistic ordeal. Are this set of people not an indigenes of Kano state?or Is it because those people are not the relatives of prominent People in Kano state?. The first policy of a responsible government is to ensure a good humanitarian affairs and see that rights of the common people in a state are well protected to the last . It matters most that when non indigenes from outside the state had a glimpse of Kano as the home of Slavery and Brutalities. The government’s quietness to react to this continuous carnage shows that the it far to end. In fact There are much hidden stories which haven’t been exposed in the Media on how evil people molest and maltreat their Fellow people in Kano. The Government of Kano should as a matter of urgency set up a committee to see ,enact laws and punish gruesomely the devil-may-care people who are hell bent on victimising their Children,Stepsons and Sons in Kano state.

Iran fixes June 2021 for presidential election

The Iran’s Interior Ministry on Monday fixed the country’s presidential election for June 18, 2021. The head of the electoral office, Jamal Araf, said given the coronavirus crisis, it remained unclear how the election campaign and voting would take place. According to Mr Araf, the Foreign Ministry will gather information from countries that also conducted elections during the pandemic. However, after two terms in office, President Hassan Rowhani cannot stand for re- election. Monitors expect a three-way competition between candidates from the reformers, conservatives and hardliners. Possible candidates are already being discussed on social media, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif, Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, former Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

BREAKING: Prof. Folasade Ogunsola emerges UNILAG acting VC

Professor Folasade Ogunsola has secured the highest number of votes in the election held by members of the University of Lagos Senate to choose an acting Vice – Chancellor . She was the Deputy Vice- Chancellor , Development Services at UNILAG before her emergence . The result of the election obtained by one of our correspondents showed that she secured 135 of 167 votes. Prof . Ben Ogbojafor, who was also considered for the post by members of the Senate, secured 31 votes. One void vote was recorded They were nominated at the senate meeting held on Monday . The meeting was attended by 167 professors . Chairman of the Senate Emergency Committee , Prof . Chioma Agomo , also announced the result to journalists after the election . The PUNCH earlier reported that the Federal Government last week directed the varsity ’s Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Wale Babalakin , and Vice – Chancellor , Prof . Oluwatoyin Ogundipe , to recuse themselves from official duties , pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by the President Muhammadu Buhari. FG had also asked UNILAG Senate to reconvene to appoint an acting VC. According to her Wiki citation , Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola was born in 1958 . She is a professor of medical microbiology who specializes in disease control , particularly HIV/ AIDS. Ogunsola was also an ex- provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos and is reputed as being the first woman to occupy the position . She became the Deputy Vice Chancellor ( Development Services ) of the institution since 2017 . “ Her research areas have been centered on the regulation and management of viral diseases , particularly HIV “ She is the principal investigator at AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria ( APIN ) at the University of Lagos . “ She has also been the chairman of Infection Control Committee of Lagos University Teaching Hospital . Additionally , she is the chairman of the National Association of Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria . “ In 2018 , she expressed concern on disease prevention and control in Nigeria . She identified poor hygiene and overuse of antibiotics as practices that foster antimicrobial – drug resistance. “ Providing a solution , she maintained that sustained Infection Prevention and Control infrastructure and programmes should be built around a set of core components which include guidelines , training , surveillance , multimodal strategies for implementing IPC, monitoring and evaluation among others ,” the citation added.

14 dead, scores wounded in twin bombing at Jolo

At least 14 people were killed and 75 wounded including members of the security forces and civilians –in twin bombings on Monday involving a suicide attacker on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants, officials said. The apparently coordinated attacks happened in Jolo in Muslim-majority Sulu, where government-backed security forces have long been fighting the Abu Sayyaf group. Five soldiers and four civilians were killed in the first blast, when an improvised explosive device attached to a motorcycle parked outside a supermarket blew up, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan told reporters. Sixteen soldiers were wounded in the explosion, which happened at around midday. Around 20 civilians were also hurt, Lieutenant Colonel Ronaldo Mateo said, citing the local mayor. soldier saw a person leave the motorbike outside the grocery store “where there were a lot of people” including members of the military. It immediately detonated, Mateo said. “Our soldiers are conducting security operations. That was the time that the improvised explosive device detonated,” he said. There was a second blast a short time later in the same street when a female suicide attacker blew herself up as police cordoned off the area, killing one person and wounding around six officers, Vinluan said. A solider had been trying to apprehend the bomber when she detonated her explosives, he added. Abu Sayyaf was “most probably” behind the double bombing, Mateo said. Listed by the United States as a terrorist organisation, Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of Islamic militants blamed for the Philippines’ worst terror attacks as well as kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries. They also have ties to Islamic State militants seeking to set up a caliphate in Southeast Asia. Monday’s explosions come after the arrest earlier this month of an Abu Sayyaf leader on the southern island of Mindanao. Security forces had been on alert for possible reprisal attacks after detaining Abduljihad Susukan, who is accused of kidnapping and beheading several foreigners. He has been charged with 23 murders, five kidnappings and six attempted murders, police have said. President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque condemned the “dastardly attacks” and issued condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed. “We call on the residents of Jolo to stay vigilant and report suspicious personalities and unattended items in their areas,” Roque said. The Philippine Coast Guard issued a “red alert” for Sulu and several other areas in the restive south as it assists the military and police in responding to the incident. The explosions happened near a Catholic cathedral in Jolo where two suicide bombers blew themselves up in January 2019 killing 21 people. It was blamed on a group linked to Abu Sayyaf.

Herdsmen chop off farmer’s hand in Oyo

Suspected herdsmen have chopped off the hand of a farmer in Ikoyi-Ile, an agrarian community in Orire local government area of Oyo State. The herdsmen also raped two ladies and destroyed farmlands, according to Secretary of Idera Agbe Farmers Association in the council, Chief Joseph Oyekola. Ikoyi-Ile, an agrarian community, is near Ogbomoso. Recounting their ordeal in the hands of the violent herdsmen, the farmers threatened to resort to self-help should security agencies fail to protect them from incessant attacks Oyekola, who doubles as the Babalaje Agbe in the local government, said: “We don’t know what to do because if we take any step or revenge, it might lead to bloodshed. “Herdsmen cut off the hand of one of our workers working on the farm, they destroyed our farm products. “Another farmer was matcheted on the head while others were injured, and two of our minors were also raped.” One of the victims, Dominic Gbegbi, said he was matcheted 14 times while trying to pursue the herders who invaded his farm with their cows. Another victim, Usman Daudu, whose farm products were also allegedly destroyed by the herders, said 20 hectares of his farmland planted with maize, yam and tomatoes, were destroyed by the herdsmen. He said: “They have not stopped the attack on our farm, we have pleaded with them several times yet they didn’t yield to our plea. They are ‘Bororo’ Fulani because the Fulani that have been living with us never had any issue with us.” Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ile, Oba Abdul-Yekeen Oladipupo, said that he has been trying his best to facilitate peaceful coexistence between the farmers and herders in the area. “We have tried to resolve the issue many times because it is difficult to separate farmers and herders. We have been living together for a while. “I have taken a lot of steps in the matter so as to find a lasting solution to it but it seems my efforts are not sufficient to achieve the goal. So, we need government intervention in the matter. “I’ve had series of meetings with all the Baales (family heads) around me to find solution to the issue. In fact, I even had meetings with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 11) in Osogbo together with the Commissioner of Police, and the police assured of coming to our aid.” The monarch called on Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, House of Assembly and security agencies to come to the aid of his people before the issue degenerates, stating he does not want bloodshed again in the town.