The Sokoto Shariah Court of Appeal in northern
Nigeria has set aside the judgment of the Upper Shariah Court 2, which ordered
the amputation of the hands of two commercial vehicle drivers.
The court ordered the immediate discharge and
acquittal of the accused persons, Nasiru Abubakar and Anas Muhammed, who
allegedly stole N10,000( about $60) belonging to a passenger.
The Upper Shariah Court had in 2010 ordered
that the right wrists of the two accused persons be amputated, for allegedly
stealing N10, 000 belonging to a passenger while on their way from Shagari
Local Government Area to Tambuwal in the state.
The accused persons had been in prison custody
in Sokoto since 2011.
A human rights activist, Malam Kabir Dodo, of
the Office of the Special Adviser to Gov. Aliyu Wamakko on Human Rights and
Donor Agencies, had filed an appeal against the ruling of the court.
Dodo urged the Shariah Court of Appeal to
dismiss the verdict of the lower court, which ordered the amputation of the
hands of the suspects.
The Judge of the Shariah Court of Appeal,
Dahiru Danjega, held that the judgment of the Upper Shariah Court was not in
tandem with Islamic principles regarding theft and amputation.
Danjega held that the judgment was against the
principle of Islamic law, equity and justice, pointed out that the money that
was allegedly stolen was not proved by the court.
The judge also noted that it was unclear who
among the two suspects allegedly stole the said N10, 000.
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