a Shari’ah court in Alkaleri, Bauchi State in northern Nigeria...

a Shari’ah court in Alkaleri, Bauchi State in northern Nigeria, sentenced a 35-year-old man, Sani Sallau, to death by stoning for having sexual intercourse with a minor. The accused was arraigned before the court by Hisba officials (Shari’ah enforcers) in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the State. The prosecutor, Malam Mohammed Abdullahi, a Hisba official, told the court that the accused person was caught having an affair with the “almajiri” (under-aged girl). Abdullahi said the suspect committed the offence on May 3 in Alkaleri, headquarters of the Alkaleri Local Government Area. He said the accused was charged with sodomy, which contravened the Shari’ah law being enforced in the state. Sallau pleaded guilty as charged. The judge, Malam Muhammad Muhammad, ordered the accused to be stoned to death since he had confessed to the offence in line with the provisions of Shari’ah law.