Daily Trust, Abuja, 23 January 2003

20-Year-Old Prince Caned for Drunkenness

Prince Abba Bashir, 20, of Dutse, Jigawa State has been caned for the second time in Dutse for drunkenness.

Bashir was on December 11, 2002 caned for drunkenness by the same court.

The prince was arrested on January 17 by a team of Sharia monitoring police called Hisba in a state of intoxication in Dutse metropolis.

The Dutse Sharia Court on Monday ordered that he be caned for being drunk.

He was dragged before the court by the police for contravening section 151 of the Sharia act, a charge he readily admitted.

The Sharia Judge, Malam Isa Gantsa, who convicted the prince, said the court would not compromise in upholding justice and the rule of law.

He, therefore, ordered that Bashir be given 80 strokes of the cane and warned him to desist from such immoral act.

The caning of the prince, who is a son to a senior councillor in Dutse Emirate Council, attracted a large crowd.