Zamfara Government Denies Trial of Woman for Converting to Christianity

The Zamfara State Government has officially denied claims that a woman named Zainab Muhamadu is facing trial in a Sharia court for converting from Islam to Christianity. A statement issued by Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, described the report as “mischievous fake news” aimed at inciting religious tension and disrupting public peace. The government emphasized that no such case exists before any Sharia court in the state.

Verification and Rebuttal

To verify the authenticity of the claim, the Zamfara government consulted with relevant authorities and security agencies. Additionally, the Grand Khadi of the Zamfara Sharia Court of Appeal confirmed that there has never been such a case before any Sharia court in the state.

Misidentification of Individual

The government further clarified that the image used in the viral report does not depict a Nigerian citizen. The woman in the photo is identified as Aalia from Texas, United States, not Zainab Muhamadu.

Call for Investigation

The Zamfara State Government has called for a full investigation into the source of the false report. Authorities are urged to prosecute anyone found responsible for spreading the misleading information.

Legal Context

While Nigeria’s federal constitution guarantees freedom of religion, 12 northern states, including Zamfara, have adopted Sharia law. This has led to concerns about the treatment of religious converts, as Sharia law in some instances penalizes apostasy. However, the federal constitution supersedes state laws, and any state law inconsistent with the constitution is considered void.

Written By Fortune Davidson