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Bauchi Assembly Orders Shari’ah Probe Into Alleged LGBTQ Gathering
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has called on the State Shari’ah Commission to swiftly investigate allegations concerning an alleged meeting involving gays and lesbians in Bauchi.
This directive comes in response to claims made by an Islamic scholar from Kano, Dr Abdallah Usman Gadon-Kaya, who shared a viral video on social media alleging that such a gathering took place.
In the video, which spread widely across social media platforms last week, Dr. Gadon-Kaya claimed that homosexual individuals from various parts of Northern Nigeria assembled in Bauchi for a 10-day orientation event.
However, the cleric did not provide specific details regarding the exact date or location of the supposed gathering.
Despite the lack of concrete information, he insisted that he was prepared to offer evidence to substantiate his claims.
During a plenary session on Wednesday, the matter was brought to the attention of the House by Dr. Nasiru Ahmed Ala, the representative for the Chinade/Madara constituency.
Ala emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for the Shari’ah Commission to summon the Islamic scholar to present any evidence supporting his allegations.
He underscored the importance of upholding Shari’ah laws and ensuring that any individuals involved in such activities face the appropriate legal consequences.
Ala’s motion, which was introduced under matters of urgent public importance, highlighted the necessity for a thorough investigation to clarify the truth of the claims and determine the next steps by Shari’ah law.
In response to the motion, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, affirmed the House’s authority under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to direct investigations and summon individuals for explanations on matters of public interest.
He stressed that the Assembly is committed to addressing this issue lawfully and responsibly.
Sulaiman reiterated that the Assembly has the constitutional mandate to investigate any claim that could affect public morality or social order, especially about Shari’ah law.
He assured that the legislative body would follow due process in ensuring the allegations are thoroughly examined and, if found to be true, that appropriate legal measures would be taken against those involved.
The investigation, once initiated, is expected to involve gathering information from relevant parties, including Dr. Gadon-Kaya and conducting a thorough review of any available evidence.
The House of Assembly’s directive underscores the seriousness with which the claims are being treated, given the sensitive nature of the issue and its potential impact on public sentiment in Bauchi and the wider Northern region.
The Shari’ah Commission is now tasked with expediting the investigation, ensuring that all claims are thoroughly vetted and that justice is served by both the Nigerian Constitution and Shari’ah law.
The outcome of this investigation is anticipated with great interest, as it will determine how the state proceeds in handling such matters in the future.
JAMB has announced that it will release the results of over 379,000 candidates who sat for the rescheduled UTME this Wednesday. The resit, which ran from Friday to Monday, was organized following several reports of technical and human issues during the initial exam. These issues, which were especially noticeable in Lagos and the South-East, affected candidates’ performance and sparked nationwide concern about the exam’s fairness.
JAMB admitted to system failures and took responsibility. Last week, Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while announcing the makeup exam, emotionally accepted blame and assured affected candidates they would get another chance. Out of the original 1.9 million candidates who sat for the UTME, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 marks, raising eyebrows about the exam’s credibility.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the resit results would be made public on Wednesday. He noted that 379,997 candidates were affected—over 200,000 from Lagos and more than 170,000 from the South-East. According to the registrar, the issues were due to sabotage, and affected candidates were notified via text messages starting last Thursday.
So far, of the nearly two million results processed, only 0.24% of candidates scored 320 and above, while just 0.63% scored 300 and above. Around 3.76% scored between 250–299, 17.11% fell within the 200–249 range, and over half—50.29%—scored between 160–199. The rest scored below 160, with a very small number getting less than 100.
APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe has pointed fingers at Nigerian traders for the continued surge in food prices across the country. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the outspoken supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration accused traders of being too greedy to reduce their prices.
He added that even as statistics suggest that the cost of food is starting to drop, traders have refused to comply. Furthermore, he expressed frustration, saying the refusal to lower prices shows a deeper problem of selfishness among citizens. According to him, Nigerians are their own worst enemies, driven by greed and a habit of taking more than they need.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to travel to Rome this Saturday to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The invitation came directly from Pope Leo XIV, who emphasized the importance of the president’s presence during this significant moment for the Church and a world facing many challenges.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be officially installed as the 267th Bishop of Rome on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by key Catholic figures, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto.
Notably, Pope Leo XIV has a special connection to Nigeria, having worked at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s. After the ceremony, President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
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