nigerian court gives police 4th chance to get evidence on gay men

Source: www.365gay.com

August 25, 2005: Lagos - For the third time a Nigerian Islamic court has given police more time to collect evidence against two men accused of having gay sex - even though police in each of the previous hearings have admitted they cannot find any proof the men ever had sex.

If found guilty the pair could be executed by stoning. The men, identified in the local media as Yusuf Kabir, 40, and Usman Sani,18, are charged with sodomy. They were arrested following a complaint the two had engaged in sex in a public washroom. (story) In previous court appearances police said they were unable to find witnesses.

This week, the prosecutor told the court that three police officers are willing to testify, but they could not appear in court because they are all away on a training course. Judge Mustapha Sani Saulawa set the next trial date for September 8. The men have been in jail since June when they were arrested

Since 2000, 12 of Nigeria's northern states have adopted Sharia codes for their courtrooms. Under Islamic law, gay sex is punishable by death. Press reports say that more than a dozen people have been convicted to death by stoning but none of the sentences has been carried out.

At least three men have been sentenced to death by stoning over the past month alone. Earlier this month, twenty-two Democratic members of Congress protested the death sentences to the Nigerian government. (story)