Man Faces Death by Stoning for Gay Sex
365Gay.com,
November 29, 2004
By 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Lagos, Nigeria—An Islamic court
has issued an arrest warrant for a middle-aged man accused of having gay sex.
If caught and convicted the Sharia court in Keffi could sentence him to death
by stoning
The warrant was issued for Michael Ifediora Nwokoma after
neighbors alleged he was gay and was having sex with another man. That person
was identified in the Nigerian media as a local businessman named Mallam
Abdullahi Ibrahim.
Ibrahim was charged but Nwokoma escaped before police
could arrest him.
Press reports say that Ibrahim was nearly lynched by
police in the process of getting him to confess. He was spared only when the
district commander intervened.
He is charged with the “unholy” act of “homosexualism”.
If convicted Ibrahim also could face death by stoning.
Sharia courts have a wide latitude in Nigeria and usually
exact the maximum penalties under strict Islamic law.
Ibrahim remains in jail until police find Nwokomah. The
court ruled that until Nwokomah is arrested Ibrahim cannot be tried. The court
decided that no mater how long it takes to find Nwokomah, Ibrahim will remain
behind bars.
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