The Marafan Yamman Zazzau, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu has been suspended by the government of Kaduna state. The traditional ruler was suspended for flogging an alleged homos3xual in Zaria, Kaduna State, according to Punch. In a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the Zazzau Emirate Council said Marafan Yamman Zazzau was punished for taking laws into his hands by flogging one Yusuf Yahaya (SABO) of Unguwan Magajiya Zaria City with sixty strokes of the cane.
The statement drafted by the Council’s Information and
Communications Officer, Abdullahi Aliyu, said the indefinite suspension of the
title holder was with immediate effect. Zazzau Emirate warned that it would not
condone any act that violated laws and orders from any traditional title holder
in the community. It advised traditional title holders to always refer cases
before them to the constituted authorities for proper adjudication rather than
taking the laws into their hands.
It also assured residents of the region that it wouldn’t take any act of
injustice by traditional title holders against its subject lightly. The
suspended chieftaincy holder, however, told journalists that he disciplined
Yusuf Yahaya (SABO) with 60 lashes because he caught him having carnal
knowledge with a “small boy” behind his residence.
He also expressed dismay over the hasty decision taken
against him by the Emirate council regarding the suspension. He added that he
expected the emirate council to refer him to the constituted authority for
violating the Laws rather than the suspension order slammed on him. According
to The PUNCH, Adamu justified his action by saying that the culprit was “his
son” and that he had the right to discipline him when he “goes wrong.” The
Ubaidullah Marafan Yamman Zazzau, however, accused some members of the emirate
council of fueling the matter.
