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CASTRATION OF RAPE OFFENDERS: NHRC Urges El- Rufai To Withhold Assent

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Alhassan Bala,Abuja.

 

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern over the recent amendment of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law No.5 of 2017, providing stiffer penalties to the offence of rape, including castration of offenders, saying that castration in this regard negates human rights standards and principles and therefore should be jettisoned.

 

The Commission is therefore calling on the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to withhold his assent to the amended Penal Code Law until the State Assembly expunges the aspect of the law that stipulates castration of culprits “because this is contrary to Section 34 (1)(a) of the Constitution of Nigeria and its implementation therefore constitutes a violation of right to dignity of human person”.

 

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq. who stated this in Abuja weekend while reacting to new Kaduna State House of Assembly legislation on rape and other Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) observed that the said amendments violates Section 2(ix) of Anti-Torture Act of 2017, which outlaws “mutilation such as amputation of essential parts of the body such as the genitalia, ears or tongue and any other part of the body”.

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According to the Executive Secretary, the amendment violates principal corpus of international human rights norms, including article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which provide that no one shall be subject to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. “Which means there can be no justification for torture, no exceptional circumstance whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as justification for torture”, the human rights Chief Executive Officer recalled.

 

The Commission, whilst acknowledging the power of the Kaduna State House of Assembly under section 4(6) and (7) of the Constitution of Nigeria “to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State or any part thereof,” states that in this circumstance, legislative power has not been exercised for the common good, for human rights and dignity of citizens of Kaduna State, he emphasised.

 

Ojukwu therefore restated that torture cannot be justified even with criminal jurisdiction exercised in accordance with internal law such as the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, otherwise it will be tantamount to legislating torture.

 

The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria cited the 2017 Penal Code Law, wherein the offence of rape carried a sentence of 21 years imprisonment for the rape of an adult and life imprisonment for the rape of a minor, and “the Commission considers these provisions to be comprehensive in line with national best practices, whereas the new amendment is capable of undermining the progress Nigeria is making in the protection of human rights and advancement of the rule of law.

 

He stated the readiness of the Commission to work together with Kaduna State and relevant stakeholders to implement a state-wide strategy of combating rape and other sexual and gender-based violence(SGBV) which will be focused on social mobilisation and communication, enhance reporting of rape and SGBV cases, effective investigations and prosecution based on the pre-existing legal regime.

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Governor Yusuf Approves 200 Riyals Support, Ihram for Each Kano Pilgrim

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Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a cash support of 200 Saudi Riyals and Ihram to each intending pilgrim from the state for the 2026 hajj exercise.

 

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his Deputy, Murtala Sule Garo, disclosed this on Sunday during the launch of the practical demonstration session organised by the Kano State pilgrims Welfare Board for prospective pilgrims in Kano.

 

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo explained that the exercise was organized to educate, inform, spiritually prepare the intending pilgrims for the Hajj rites from Ihram to Tawaf, from Sa’i to Arafat, from Muzdalifah to Mina and the symbolic stoning of the Jamarat.

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He stated that the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf remains committed to the welfare and well-being of all the pilgrims from the state.

 

Garo said, “This demonstration is a vital aspect of Hajj preparation. Hajj is not merely a journey of travel; it is a sacred act of worship that requires adequate knowledge, discipline, patience and sincere devotion to Allah.”

 

Garo further conveyed the Governor’s goodwill gesture to the pilgrims.

 

He added, “I also wish to give the good tidings to our pilgrims that the Kano State Government has approved the sum of 200 Saudi Riyals and Ihram to each and every intending pilgrim as a compliment from His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.”

 

The Deputy Governor also revealed that the administration has secured conducive accommodation arrangements to ensure the comfort and convenience of the pilgrims throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.

 

According to him, the state government has equally deployed well-trained medical personnel to complement healthcare services provided by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), saying qualified Islamic scholars have also been selected to provide spiritual guidance during the exercise.

 

He urged the intending pilgrims to be worthy ambassadors of Kano State and Nigeria by obeying the laws of Saudi Arabia and conducting themselves with discipline, humility, and responsibility throughout the pilgrimage.

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6 Kano Central Senatorial Aspirants Withdraw for Senator Ibrahim Shekarau

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Six Kano Central senatorial aspirants have withdrawn for Senator Ibrahim Shekarau in the forthcoming 2027 general election.

One of the senatorial aspirants and a former Kano State Head of Service, Alhaji Usman Bala Muhammad, stated this while addressing journalists at Aminu Kano House in Abuja.

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Those that Withdraw for Malam Ibrahim Shekarau are Dr Muhammad Zango,Alhaji Danyaro Yakasai,Usman Bala Muhammad ,Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada and Shehu Isah Direba.

 

The aspirants have already purchased their nominations forms and submitted to APC secretariat before they were called for a consensus by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

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Obi Thunders at NDC Convention: ‘Rethink Now, Tyrants! Nigerians Will Reclaim Power in 2027!

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

 

The presidential hopeful of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, vowed today at the party’s national convention in Abuja to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the support of Nigerians.

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In his words: “To the beneficiaries of democracy who have now turned themselves into agents of destruction, depriving Nigerians of the democracy they enjoy—who think we will not have a free and fair election in 2027—let them rethink now, because we are going to have a free, fair, and credible election.”

 

The party’s convention today officially unveiled the NDC as the country’s second most vibrant opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

With both Mr. Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the NDC, and Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen in the ADC, the political atmosphere is set for a power play in 2027.

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