The Yobe State House of Assembly has approved the report of its Justice, Judiciary, and Religious Affairs Standing Committee regarding a bill that aims to create the State’s Hisba Commission.
After much ddeliberation among the members on the committee’s 41 recommendations, the House finally adopted the report.
The chairman, House committee on Justice, Judiciary, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Yakubu Suleiman, provided additional context for the report’s adoption. Stating that the Commission, if constituted, would work with security services to guarantee that Shari’a laws are fully applied throughout the State.
The lawmaker went on to say that the Commission would also take the required actions to purge society of all criminal activity and social vices.
In order to ensure effective surveillance and adherence to Shari’a rules in the 17 Local Government Areas of the State, the chairman went on to say that the current members of the Hisba Committee under the Ministry of Religious Affairs will serve as the Hisba Corps of the Commission.
The chairman stated that representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, State Council of Chiefs, Nigerian Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights Commission, State Muslim Umma Forum, and Civil Society Organizations would be among the Commission’s executive and two permanent members. The Executive Chairman would need to be an Islamic scholar with a BSc degree in Islamic or Arabic studies.
The House committee’s comprehensive report, which would help the government ensure appropriate implementation of Shari’a law in the State, was praised by Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio, appreciating the committee for doing a thorough job.
