Homosexuality: How sharia court sentenced septuagenarian, others to death — Relatives

On June 28, 2022, a Shariah Court in Ningi, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State convicted and sentenced three men –Mallam Haruna (70 years old), Abdullahi Abubakar Beti (30 years old) and Kamilu Ya’u (20 years old) – to death by stoning for homosexuality.
The Shariah judge, Munka’ilu Sabo-Ningi, said the men violated Section 134 of the Bauchi State Penal Law of 2001 as well as the provisions of Fiquhussunah Jizu’i No.2 at page 362.

However, relatives of the convicts speak about the inciden; Mallam Ibrahim Abba, a resident of Gwada who said he has an Islamiyya School and Mallam Haruna is like his friend and disciple, added that he doesn’t know where he was arrested but he heard some people, including a vigilante, arrested him and brought him to the Mai Angwa’s (village heads’s) house and from there, they took him away to Ningi on a motorcycle.

“I have been very bitter since the news broke. As the proprietor of the school, I just saw that they took him away and nobody came to tell me what exactly happened. I didn’t go to any of the court sittings; seeing how close we were and how we’ve lived, the pain, the sadness and the bitterness of the whole thing couldn’t allow me go there.

“It is not even just about my community; I have not heard of such a judgment anywhere in Nigeria, so I see it as a rare case. Originally, he is not from this village; he migrated to this place from Kano State and he’s been here for upwards of 25 years and I have known him for all these years. In fact, I was one of the first people he met when he came to this village from Kano and I offered him a place to stay.

He came in search of greener pastures as it is customary for our people here in the North. People leave their places and migrate to other places to seek better life. If they find the new place pleasing and accommodating, then they settle there. I’ve stayed with him for all these years without any problem and honestly, I can’t say whether he’s guilty or not. Only God knows a man’s heart.” He added.

On her part, Asama’u Abdullahi, wife of one of the convicts stated that “My husband was arrested somewhere in the town (Gwada). I don’t know the people who arrested him. I was at home when my neighbours came to tell me that my husband had been arrested. At that time, I was sick; I was lying down due to the sickness. There was also no food for me and my children to eat on that day. We went hungry throughout that day.

I cried profusely. The children kept crying because they were very hungry and there was no food for them to eat.

No, I haven’t because since the day he was arrested and taken away I haven’t set my eyes on him. The last time I saw him was the morning of the day of his arrest. When I heard about the judgment, I felt as if my heart would pop out of my chest as a result of confusion. I honestly didn’t find it easy psychologically. He left me with four children; I am not working, I don’t know how to feed and cater for them. As I speak with you right now, I don’t even have what to give them to eat. They should please pity me and release my husband so he can come back to us, he’s all that we have. I have no father and nowhere to go to; I have nobody to look up to for any assistance. I don’t have anywhere to go and keep these children and that’s why the issue has been disturbing me. When you came, you saw me working on someone’s farm. I was doing that on an empty stomach. My children and I have had nothing to eat.

“I seriously don’t know if he’s guilty or not since I don’t follow him to all the places he goes to, but all I am saying is that they should please release my husband. I don’t know where he is currently but I honestly wish to see him. I appeal to them to release him to come back to us because we miss him. I know the judgment hasn’t been carried out and that’s why I am begging them to release him,” she added. (Story adapted from The PUNCH)