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May 16, 2022

[GIST] Blasphemy: Positions of Justice System and the Holy Quran By Yushau Shuaib

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Yushau A. Shuaib

“Take the law into your hands… You need not report to any authority to kill any blasphemer!”

I was shocked to the marrow when an Imam, during a Juma’at service in one of the mosques in Abuja, ordered his followers to engage in extra-judicial killing.

As a Muslim, not only by birth but also by training and practice, I would be terribly disturbed if anyone disparages my religion or the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) whom we the faithful hold in very high esteem. Yet, in that aggrieved state of mind, I would never take the law into my hand but will rather channel my deep consternation appropriately by reporting such sacrilegious act to constituted authorities for suitable judicial measures.

In recent times, I have had to contend with a series of gory footage of extreme brutalities. I watched a video in which blindfolded captives were thrown into a deep ditch and buried alive by their tormentors who were speaking Arabic. I also saw another video in which a female soldier was violently raped in the presence of her husband, also a soldier, before they were both slaughtered by some unknown gunmen who were speaking Igbo. I have equally watched the latest video in which a female student was stoned and later burnt alive by young men speaking Hausa.

Yushau A. Shuaib

The jungle and vigilante justice of taking the law into our own hands, which is barbaric, un-Islamic and a manifestation of violent extremism, can only lead to great social upheaval and chaos. The geneses of some of the crises we are facing in Nigeria today – especially banditry, terrorism and violent secessionist agitations – were extra-judicial killings involving state and non-state actors.

Sometimes in 2014, an Islamic scholar fainted and later had a stroke during a counseling visitation to a detention camp, where terrorists were kept by security forces. The scholar, in a delegation of other clerics sponsored by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), had encountered a Boko Haram operative, who was notorious as a butcher and known to have slaughtered many people, in captivity.

When the scholar queried the young killer over the motivation for his homicidal sprees, the fellow claimed to have only been following the instructions of his teacher, who also happened to be in custody at that point in time.

When tasked to cite any verse of the Holy Quran or the Hadith – the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) – to gauge the level of Islamic understanding behind his thinking, the Boko Haram leader was rather vacuous and claimed to have read all he knew from another Arabic book, and not the holy scripts.

Meanwhile, a judgment in a celebrated case of blasphemy in Nigeria, delivered by a panel of the Supreme Court in October 2007, upheld the death by hanging sentence of Muslim men, Musa Yaro, Abubakar Dan Shalla and others, for the brutal murder of one Alhaji Abdullahi Umaru of Randali village in Kebbi, for allegedly blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

The current Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and the first female CJN Aloma Mariam Mukhtar both Northern Muslims were among the justices of the apex court who delivered a unanimous judgment on that incident, which happened in Kebbi State on in June 1999.

The other justices that decided on the matter included former CJN, Walter Onnoghen, Sylvester Umaru Onu and George Oguntade.

The convicts had earlier been found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by the High Court in Kebbi and an Appeal Court, before the judgment was finally ratified by the Supreme Court.

In his pronouncement, Justice Tanko pointed out that: “Islam is not a primitive religion that allows its adherents to take the law into their own hands and to commit jungle justice.

"Instead, there is a judicial system in Islam, which hears and determines cases, including the trial of criminal offences and anybody accused of committing an offence against the religion or against a fellow citizen should be taken to the court (either a Sharia or a secular/common law court) for adjudication.

"It is only when a person is convicted and sentenced by a court of law that he will be liable to a punishment which will be carried out by an appropriate authority (i.e. the prison).”

He further stated that the accused persons “were merely a bunch of bloodthirsty militants or religious fundamentalists who were all out to satisfy their vindictive zeal against the deceased.”

The life stories of the peace-loving Prophet Muhammad (SAW) were those of a great man, who was mocked, insulted, defamed, cursed, and physically attacked for his faith in Islam – all of which he responded to with patience, forbearance, mercy, and forgiveness of those who had offended him. There are many authentic Hadiths buttressing his peaceful nature, which should teach Muslims the importance of tolerance, kindness and a sense of brotherliness.

The Qur'an, the Hadiths and Shariah law generally do not endorse or justify gross acts of vigilante violence, jungle justice and extra-judicial killings.

In many verses of the Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Muslims are enjoined by the Almighty Allah to be patient and to increase their acts of tolerance and worship.

For instance, the following verses in the Quran explain it better:

“Be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.” [Surah al-Muzzamil, 73:10] and “So be patient over what they say and exalt with the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.” [Surah Qaf, 50:39]

The Quran also warns Muslim against revenge when they are insulted. It states that “We already know that your heart is constrained by what they say, so glorify the praises of your Lord and be among those who prostrate.” [Surah al-Hijr, 15:97-98].

“You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves, and you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah, that is of the matters requiring resolve.” [Surah Ali Imran, 3:186]

“When you see those who engage in offensive discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversion.” [Surah al-An’am, 6:68]

“It has already been revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah, they are denied and ridiculed. So do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Verily, you would then be like them.” [Surah al-Nisa’, 4:140]

“They said: We will surely be patient with whatever harm you cause us, and let them rely who would rely upon Allah.” [Surah Ibrahim, 14:12]

As a proud Muslim, I know that one of the great Jihads in Islam is to preach love, peace, and tolerance, and spread the authentic teachings of Islam through the Quran and the exemplary conduct of our greatest role model, the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

It is necessary to caution Northerners in the region that currently faces banditry and terrorism to address the plight of ignorant and jobless youth who, if care is not taken, may declare some days in a week for sit-at-home, just as it regularly happens in the South-East.

Although I have received death threats on social media over my Islamic Daawah of peace and tolerance lately, I nevertheless console myself with the verse in the Quran that says: “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.” [Surah Al-A’raf, 7:199]

This is the real teaching of Islam, not jungle justice.

Yushau A. Shuaib is a graduate of Mass Communication and Islamic Studies
https://yhoo.it/3FMhFES

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Vibemusic Inc May 16, 2022

[GIST] Ogun Community Landlords Protest Against Pastor Oyakhilome's Christ Embassy, Accuse Church Of Land-grabbing, Trespassing

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Landlords at Gideon village in Ibafo community, Ogun State have staged a peaceful protest at the Christ Embassy's campground in Asese community, Obafemi-Owode council area of the state over allegations of "land-grabbing, trespass and oppression by the church's representatives".
Chirst Embassy, also known as LoveWorld Incorporated or Believers' Loveworld, is a megachurch founded by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

The protesters came out on Sunday in large numbers armed with placards with different inscriptions
such as "Oyakhilome leave our land alone", "Land grabbing is a sin, stop harassing us", "Christ Embassy, don't cause religious crisis in Ibafo" and many others called on both the state and federal governments to as a matter of urgency and importance intervene in the matter to nip in the bud the brewing land crisis, which could lead to violence in a matter of days.'

According to the protesters, an alleged attempt by Christ Embassy Church to illegally and forcefully seize their landed properties was followed by provocation on Thursday, May 5, 2022 when the church’s representatives stormed the site of an ongoing building works belonging to CityCode Mortgage Bank Limited, with two policemen and more than 60 thugs.
The thugs allegedly wielded all sorts of dangerous weapons, wounding and whisking many workers on site away.
The action informed the residents' mass protest.

The protesters said, trouble, however, started when assailants stormed the company’s worksite, started shooting sporadically, descended on workers and anybody in sight, beating and using harmful objects on them and forcefully dragging them into vehicles they came with, saying that the commotion and shooting sent panic throughout the community, prompting some of the landlords and residents to resolve that the constant harassment must be stopped.

Speaking with SaharaReporters during the protest, some of the landlords who simply identified themselves as Azeez Salami, Emmanuel Ndubuisi Osuwa and Matthew Adedayo Eyinade, condemned the action of the church.
They alleged that in trying to forcefully take their land, the church had twice pulled down the CityCode’s fences in 2019 and again with swamp boogie in October 2021 and to date, the church has vehemently refused to rebuild the fences or paid compensation.

According to them, their fathers sold the land to CityCode in 2004 and there had been no dispute about that until Christ Embassy came to inform them that they were having a dispute with the Redeemed church and that after their settlement, they were assigned a swathe of land and wondered why Christ Embassy will still come and being to grab and trespass their fathers land illegally and in a crude manner.

Alhaji Momoh, who expressed displeasure, stated that “These churches, Redeemed and Christ Embassy, are trying to provoke us, believing we are helpless and nothing will happen. I am a retired civil servant and I know what it took me and how many years to build my house. We are free with CityCode, which was magnanimous enough to stay because from the record we have, they have the C of O in this area. We are not supposed to have any issue with any church, apart from CityCode.

"There are some among them who will buy land in the name of the church, but they actually share the lands among themselves to resell and make so much money. I have seen that in Redeemed very clearly. Government should rise and checkmate these people because this can lead to a crisis. We all have titles to our properties, I know not less than ten landlords here with their valid C of O, I have seen them, so what are they talking about?”

Speaking in the same vein, another landlord in the community who identified himself as Alhaji Momoh, alleged that the churches in the area are bent on setting the area on fire by their actions, believing nothing will happen.
He called on the state and federal governments to come to their aid and investigate the matter in order to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the area.

Addressing the protesters on behalf of the Christ Embassy Church, an official of the church and Chief Security Officer (CSO), Ighodalo Ozazuwa, told the protesters that they would be attended to but noted that the community had said a lot of things against the interest of the church.
"I won't respond. The matter is in court and it's being handled," he said.

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Vibemusic Inc May 16, 2022

[GIST] Former Ekiti Governor, Oni Accuses Incumbent, Fayemi Of Diverting Workers' Funds To APC Governorship Candidate

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ONI AND FAYEMI

The governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has been accused of diverting all the deductions from the salaries of workers in the state, amounting to billions of Naira to the campaign funding of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the June 18 governorship election in the state, Biodun Oyebamji.
The Director, Media and Publicity, Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO), Jackson Adebayo, made this known in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.

ONI AND FAYEMI
Adebayo alleged that all the deductions from March 2021 to date were paid to the Biodun Oyebamji Campaign Organisation.
He alleged that the diversions had made it impossible for civil servants and other public workers to access loans from the Nigerian government mortgage scheme where the money deducted from workers' salaries ought to have been remitted.
According to SOCO, the unremitted deductions by Ekiti State Government include that of co-operatives which have not been paid to the various societies since January this year, thus making it difficult for members to get loans or withdraw their money to solve their immediate financial problems.
"Apart from this, deductions to different financial institutions where workers obtained loans were not remitted to the appropriate institution while those that are supposed to have finished their loan repayment are still paying to these financial institutions since the ones deducted through government are not remitted,” the statement said.
Adebayo added that the National Housing funds have suffered the same fate as the last remittance that the state made to the bank was in May 2021.
The organisation lambasted the governor for his alleged insensitivity, knowing that the body is supposed to be giving loans to workers as it is being done in other states and at the federal level.
It said since monies deducted from workers by the state government have not been remitted, Ekiti workers are being deprived of getting the loans.
"Even those workers who retired could not get their contributions back since their money did not get to the national housing fund that is supposed to give the loans or payback to the retired workers,” it said.
Adebayo equally said that monies deducted for the labour unions were not remitted to the unions since January this year also.
The organisation called on the governor to as matter of urgency withdraw all the aforementioned money which he had allegedly diverted to the Biodun Abayomi Oyebamji campaign organisation (BAO) account immediately and paid to the appropriate institutions so that Ekiti workers could also enjoy the fruit of their labour.
However, Governor Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, could not be reached for comments as calls put across to his mobile line by SaharaReporters were not answered nor returned.
A text message also sent to his line was not replied to at the time of this report.

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Vibemusic Inc May 16, 2022

[GIST] Alleged Blasphemy: No Votes In 2023 For Politicians Who Fail To Condemn Deborah's Murder—Christian Youths

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) has warned that any politician who fails to mourn or condemn the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah Samuel, who was killed by a mob over alleged blasphemy, should forget about their votes in the 2023 general elections.
The youth group condemned the killing of Deborah by fellow students of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.

Ms Samuel was killed by the mob, who also burnt her body.
A statement signed by Belusochukwu Enwere, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) on Sunday, lamented that most of the presidential aspirants campaigning to lead the nation have failed to condemn the barbaric action.
The statement reads, "Today is the 4th day Miss Deborah Samuel was killed by Muslim extremist students who chose to take the laws into their hands and yet most of our Nigerian political class who are gunning to lead us as a country failed to condemn or to commiserate with the bereaved family.
"Even after killing Deborah, the miscreants continued to destroy people's properties, burning church facilities and going from house to house intimidating peaceful Christians. The security agencies should do the needful before this becomes a religious war.
"This is nauseating and disheartening indeed. Any politician who failed to mourn with the nation especially the Christians in this sorrowful time should forget our votes in 2023. We will mobilize Christian youths across the nooks and crannies of the country to ensure that such persons are stopped because he or she will be a misrepresentation of the nation. Nigeria is a secular state, not a religious nation.
"We call on all Christian youths to continue to be peaceful and not take laws into their hands. God must surely fight to avenge the killing of Deborah. Her death will unearth the evil agenda of the wicked ones in Nigeria."