Date: 2018-03-25

By Ahmed 'Lateef A Professor of Islamic Studies, Badmas 'Lanre Yusuf, has canvassed swift assent to the bill prohibiting sales of human parts in Kwara State.

Yusuf said the seeming delay in signing the bill, which was recently passed by the State House of Assembly, into law would embolden the miscreants who are fond of dealing in human parts to continue their illict business.

He stated this in a sermon he delivered on Friday at Hilal Crescent Mosque, Offa Road, GRA, Ilorin.

Yusuf, a don at the University of Ilorin, said the presentation and passage of the legislative framework at the State Assembly was at the behest of the people of the state and failure to act fast on the bill would make people to resort to self help after apprehending any perpetrator.

He said Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed must demonstrate the willingness to assent to the bill as done to other bills in order to curb the nefarious activities of human parts dealers in the state.

The cleric, who recalled instances where mob actions were visited on individuals suspected to be dealing in human parts, stressed the need for a law to be expeditiously put in place. "We are using this opportunity to appealing to Kwara State government. There was a bill already passed in the state House of Assembly, prohibiting sales of human parts live or dead. It has taken awhile but up till now, the Executive Governor has not endorsed this law (bill).

"I want Your Excellency to know that it is the desire of the entire Muslims of Kwara State including non-Kwarans, who are living in Kwara State here, and failure to sign this bill, would be tantamount to what the Prophet said that "Fitnah" is asleep, please don't wake it up. Because the way of waking it up is to make the people to be taking law into their hands.

"When they catch somebody who is trying to dig a grave, they will put tyre on his head and set him ablaze. This is not the best way of solving problem. That is why we are using this medium to commend the Governor of the state and to urge him not to allow these miscreants in our society", Yusuf said.

He applauded the state government for the efforts made to ensure security of lives and property across the state.

The Herald On Sunday recalls that the State House of Assembly enacted a legislative framework, discouraging sales or consumption of human parts as well as digging of graves with maximum of 15 years imprisonment for any culprit.