Death verdict for man with 80 wives

An Islamic body in Nigeria has issued a death sentence on a man who married 80 women well above the maximum of four allowed, the Guardian newspaper reports.

The Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), one of Nigeria's top Islamic bodies, said in a statement that Mohammadu Bello Masaba from the central Niger state stood condemned to death unless he divorced 76 of the women in four days.

"Unless Masaba repents within four days and take only four wives from the herd he remains condemned to death, according to Sharia law," the statement said.

"Any Muslim who married more than the approved number of wives at a time either by mistake ( if he had amnesia, he could be excused ? ? ? ) or out of ignorance is instructed to choose but only four and ask for Allah's forgiveness," the group said.

Since the return of Nigeria to civil rule in 1999 a dozen predominantly Muslim states in the north have re-introduced a strict version of the Islamic Sharia legal system.

Sharia law is often seen as more efficient and less bureaucratic and corrupt than Nigeria's secular courts.

The northern states pride themselves on applying a mild form of Sharia, with no deaths by stoning carried out and few amputations.

ninemsn 22 Aug 2008

Still struggling to comprehend what he married cows, sheep or goats ??? !!!

Feeling much safer now that there are fewer amputations !