UNICEF has expressed deep concern over the jailing of a 13 year-old boy by a Sharia court in Kano.
The boy, identified as Omar Farouk, was sentenced to 10 years in jail, by the same court that sentenced to death the singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu for the same offence.
The boy’s case only came to light last week and lawyers who are trying to get him freed have been denied access to him.
UNICEF has asked that the sentence be reversed immediately.
The sentencing of this child – 13-year-old Omar Farouk – to 10 years in prison with menial labour is wrong,’ said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, in an appeal to both Kano and Federal Government.
‘It also negates all core underlying principles of child rights and child justice that Nigeria – and by implication, Kano State – has signed on to.’
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The sentence is in contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Nigeria ratified in 1991.
“It is also a violation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which Nigeria ratified in 2001 and the Nigeria’s Child Rights Act 2003, which domesticates Nigeria’s international obligations to protect children’s right to life, survival and development,” he said.
The representative expressed appreciation for the strides recently made by the Kano State Government to pass the Kano State Child Protection Bill.
He however, called for an urgent need to accelerate the enactment of the bill so as to ensure that all children under 18, including Farouq, are protected.
He also urged the government to ensure that all children in Kano are treated in accordance with child rights standards.
“UNICEF will continue to provide support to the Federal and Kano State Governments on child protection system strengthening, including justice sector reform, to ensure that states put in place child-sensitive measures to handle cases involving children.
Farouq was convicted on 10 August for allegedly using foul language towards Allah during an altercation with a friend.
He was sentenced on 18 August.
His lawyers vainly attempted to set the conviction aside, based on the argument that blasphemy is unknown to Nigerian law and constitution.
