Nigerian Sharia Court jails female singer for staging musical concert

Daily Trust

Written 02-07-2008

A lower Shari’ah Court in Shira Local Govern-ment Area of Bauchi State has sentenced a 34-year-old female singer, Talatu Mai-Gurmi, to two months imprisonment or N5,000 fine for staging a traditional musical concert.

The convict was arrested by the Shari’ah enforcement agents, Hisba, with two other singers, Dan-Kawu Mai-Garaya and Odoji Mai-Kotso, for allegedly contravening the shariah law. The incident occurred at Yana, headquarters of Shira local government area of the state.

While Mai-Gurmi pleaded guilty to the one-count charge, Mai-Garaya and Mai-Kotso pleaded not guilty to the offence which contravened sections 95 and 365 of the sharia penal code.

In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Malam Garba Dan-Baba, said the accused was convicted based on the evidence before the court as well as her voluntary confession.

The court however granted bail to the remaining two accused persons and adjourned the case to July 17. (NAN)

http://www.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13840&Itemid=243