The Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has disbanded the state Shariah police, Hisbah, a couple of days after the commission’s daring seizure of musical instruments played at his daughter’s wedding.
Shariah law was implemented in 2000 in Sokoto, culminating in 2001 with the sentencing of Safiya Husseini to death by stoning for adultery. She was later discharged on technical grounds by a higher court.
But the commandant of the Hisbah Commission, Aminu Kasarawa, said they made the seizure because their actions violates the provisions of Shari’ah law.
He said the DJ who performed at the dinner escaped arrest, adding that playing music during the dinner was outside the purview of Islamic law.
But the commissioner for Religious Affairs, Mani Katami, told NAN on Sunday that following crisis that rocked the Shariah agency, the state government has disbanded the Hisbah Commission.
Mr. Katami disclosed that the decision was taken on Saturday during a meeting with the leadership of three factions in the commission and the officials of ministries of religious affairs and Justice.
“This action was taken as the three groups had failed to harmonise themselves into one group, for efficient and united operations.
“The state government had given them a grace of over one year to do so, but the groups had failed to harmonise, this is contrary to the Act establishing the commission.
“This had allowed unnecessary bickering, unilateral operations, while myriad of complaints were received from members of the public about alleged overzealousness and high handedness of its operatives,” he said.
Katami directed the Chairman of the commission, Dr Adamu Kasarawa, to immediately hand over all documents and property of the commission to his office.
The commissioner said that the state government would soon constitute a proper and harmonised leadership of the commission.
Reacting, Kasarawa denied the allegations of wrong doing by the over 9,000 strong operatives of the commission.
“This action by the state government is very unfortunate, but I will hand over all items and documents with me as directed, because I am a law abiding citizen.
“It is not also true that we have been operating unilaterally, but some officials were not happy with some of our most recent operations.”
NAN
