Lawyers familiar with the Islamic legal system in Sokoto...

Lawyers familiar with the Islamic legal system in Sokoto told AFP that there were three possible scenarios for the outcome of Safiya Hussaini's appeal at the Shari'a appellate court in Sokoto. Hussaini was sentenced to death by stoning in October 2001 after giving birth to a child while unmarried.
The court could discharge the case and acquit Hussaini, or it could ask the original court to re-try the case on the basis of the new evidence, or it could re-affirm the conviction and sentence.
Even if the conviction and sentence are confirmed, the lawyers say, there are two further possibilities for appeal, at a Higher Appeal Court and at the Nigerian Supreme Court, after which the Sokoto State governor could still grant clemency.