The Yobe State House of Assembly has approved the report of its standing committee on Justice, Judiciary, and Religious Affairs regarding a bill that seeks to establish the Hisba Commission in the state.
After extensive deliberation on the committee’s 41 recommendations, the House adopted the report.
Following the report’s adoption, Hon. Yakubu Suleiman, the Chairman of the House committee on Justice, Judiciary, and Religious Affairs, provided further explanations. He stated that the Commission, once established, would support security agencies in ensuring the full implementation of Shari’a laws throughout the state.
The lawmaker also mentioned that the Commission would take necessary measures to purify society from all forms of social vices and crimes.
The Chairman further explained that the existing members of the Hisba Committee under the Ministry of Religious Affairs would become the Hisba Corps of the Commission, responsible for effectively monitoring and ensuring compliance with Shari’a laws in all 17 local government areas of the state.
According to the Chairman, the Commission would be led by an executive chairman who must be an Islamic scholar with a BSc degree in Islamic or Arabic studies. It would also include two permanent members, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the State Council of Chiefs, the Nigerian Legal Aid Council, the National Human Rights Commission, the State Muslim Umma Forum, Civil Society Organizations, among others.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio, commended the House committee for presenting a comprehensive report that would assist the government in ensuring the proper implementation of Shari’a law in the state.