The Role of the Shariah Legal System in the Prevention and Control of Crime in Kebbi State, North-Westen Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between the application of the Shariah legal system and crime control in Kebbi state. The role played by the re-implementation of Shariah was studied. The study aimed at providing knowledge on the relationship between Shariah legal system and how it controls and prevents crime and criminal activities in the state. The study used focus group discussions (FGD) and in depth interviews (IDI) as the instruments of data collection. The area of the study was divided into three senatorial districts and in this case Kebbi south senatorial district was selected in which three local governments areas namely Yauri, Koko Besse, Zuru were used for the collection of data. The study conducted nine focus group discussions (FGD) and nine in-depth interviews (IDI). A Total of (18) session was conducted with males and females adult and young persons female and males unmarried. The study revealed that the process of Shariah as legal system in Kebbi state faced a lot of problems ranging from poor arrangement of it implementation like the inability to provide basic social amenities to the people, poor office accommodation, lack of qualify staffs and also found that corruption exist in the courts. Moreover, other security agencies like police, civil defense do report their cases after investigation to magistrate and high courts because their services are more inclined with the Nigeria constitution than the Shariah court. These and many other reasons made the introduction of Shariah in Kebbi state to control and prevent crime have not been achieved as expected, Based on the findings of the study some recommendations were offered.

Keywords: Shariah legal system, prevention and crime control, reimplementation.