Executive bill to scrap Sharia, Customary courts never existed – Kaduna Assembly members

Adeleye Kunle

Some members of the 9th Kaduna State House of Assembly have denied claims by Yusuf Zailani, the Speaker, that members of the House rejected the bill to scrap the Sharia and Customary Courts in the state.

The Speaker said the bill was sponsored and brought to the House by the immediate-past governor of the state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The Speaker in a viral audio, during a valedictory session by the House, explained that the former governor brought in the bill, stressing that the members of the House of Assembly rejected the bill, alleging that it was capable of causing a crisis in the state.

According to the Speaker, rejecting the bill had caused a stir between him and the immediate-past governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The Speaker explained, “If the Bill to scrap Sharia and Customary Court had sailed through the House, only God knows the unimaginable crisis that would have followed.”

A member of the 9th Assembly, Yusuf Salihu, who represented Kawo Constituency, while leading other members, described as “laughable” the Speaker’s allegation that he was being witch-hunted over a proposed bill to scrap the Sharia and Customary Courts by the former governor.

Salihu, flanked by a member-elect, Shehu Yunusa, representing Kubau Constituency, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna on Monday, stated, “there was no executive bill to scrap the two courts in the last Assembly.”

He explained that the Speaker did that to tarnish the image of El-Rufai, explaining that members carried out a thorough investigation to ensure there was nothing of such, saying, “it was never registered and we assumed there was nothing of such.”

He added, “Most of you may be aware of the laughable allegation raised by the outgoing Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Zailani, during the valedictory session of the Assembly, wherein he alleged that he is being witch-hunted for rejecting an Executive Bill which was sponsored by the then Mallam Nasir el-Rufai-led administration, wherein he sought to scrap Shariah and Customary Courts, and convert them to Area Court.”

He lamented that the Speaker would make such false allegations just to whip public sentiment, not minding the long-run implications of his action on the institution.

He urged the Speaker to desist from spreading misinformation and to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims, especially regarding sensitive matters such as the administration of justice in the state.

He said that he (Speaker) was able to keep the imaginary bill to himself for six months, without bringing it up for mention in the hallow chamber, not to talk giving the people of the state the opportunity to make input as required by the law.