Suspended Jigawa Commissioner Faces Sharia Court over Alleged Adultery

Nasir Buba, a man from Jigawa State, has taken legal action against Awwal Danladi Sankara, the suspended Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties, accusing him of being involved in an affair with his wife. Buba brought the matter to a Sharia Court in Kano, following an incident where Sankara was reportedly found with Buba’s wife in an unfinished building.

The arrest of Sankara took place last Friday, after the Hisbah Corps, a religious law enforcement agency, announced they had detained the commissioner. The arrest followed “intense surveillance” after Buba made a formal complaint about the commissioner’s alleged conduct.

Following Sankara’s arrest, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State suspended him from his position, pending further investigation into the allegations.

Representing Buba, his lawyer, Haruna Magashi, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and called on the court to thoroughly investigate Sankara. “The complainant, Alhaji Nasir Buba, has laid a formal complaint before this court that he is suspecting Awwal Sankara of committing an offense and therefore he wants the matter to be investigated,” Magashi said.

Shehu Sadam, Sankara’s legal counsel, clarified that the case was brought forward by Buba himself, not by the Hisbah Corps as some reports suggested. “We read so much news on social media by the Kano State Hisbah Board, but the complainant is Alhaji Nasir Buba. We heard that the matter would be heard today (Monday), and so we were in court on behalf of our client,” Sadam explained.

Neither Sankara nor Buba’s wife appeared in court during the initial hearing. The judge, Khadi Abdullahi Sarki Yola, is expected to proceed with hearing the case on Tuesday.

The allegations have stirred discussions in Jigawa and Kano states, as the case touches on sensitive issues of morality and the responsibilities of public officials. The investigation and court proceedings will determine the next steps for the suspended commissioner and the outcome of the accusations brought forward by Buba.