This Day

NIGERIA: Rights Group Assures of Fair Hearing for Safiyat

A human rights and social justice advocacy group, the Sakkwato Protection Project, says it is keenly watching the trial at the Sharia Court of Appeal in Sokoto in the case of the convicted adulteress, Safiyat Husseini.

A statement signed by the project's secretary, Malam Kabir Ahmed and given to the News Agency of NIgeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Wednesday, said, "we have no iota of doubt in our mind that Safiya would be given a fair hearing by the appelate court".

It however urged the international community to exercise restraint on the matter, adding: "the way and manner some people in Europe and America are daily loading insulting language on the internet against the state governor and people over the trial of Safiyat is unbecoming."

It called on all and sundry in the state to desist from all acts capable of derailing the nation's nascent democracy.

The project also urged youths in the state not to allow themselves to be used by some unscrupulous people to breach the peace in the state.

The sharia court in the state last month sentenced Safiyat to death by stoning after being convicted for adultery.

Safiyat, who is currently pregnant as a result of the said adultery, is expected to be stoned to death after she has been delivered of her baby, if the appelate court confirms the sentence.