Sharia police destroys alcohol worth about N200m in Kano

The Sharia Police, known as Hisbah, has destroyed alcoholic beverages worth about N200 million in Kano State metropolis on Sunday.

News of the exercise at Kalebawa in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area was announced in a statement issued by the Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Harun Muhammad Ibn Sina.

According to Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Sina, some 1,975 bottles of corked beer were confiscated and destroyed by the Kano State Hisbah Board, along with the crates.

The Hisbah Board moved in after obtaining a court order, ElombahNews gathered.

The Board Commander-General, said the seized brew was worth over N200 million.

He also confirmed that the board got a court order to destroy the over 20 trucks of the alcoholic beverage.

Reacting to the development, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje praised the Sharia Board for the intervention.

Governor Ganduje noted that consumption of alcohol and all other intoxicants that can distort the mental attitude of a person is forbidden in Islam.

Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, said in a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hassan Musa Fagge:

“Even in Kano we have banned the consumption of beer in all parts of the state.”

“My administration is proud of the way you discharge your duties.

“I urge all stakeholders to give you all the needed support to enable you succeed,” he added.

Reactions have, however, trailed the destruction of the alcoholic beverages by Sharia authorities.

A philanthropist, social critic and self-styled campaigner for the oppressed and voiceless, Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke questioned the rationale behind such actions while still partaking in the dividends of alcohol tax.

Maazi Ezeoke, taking to his Twitter handle, wrote:

Quick Question Twitter Street! Is alcohol tax part of fund being shared to all states of the federation?

Quick Question Twitter Street!

Is *alcohol tax* part of fund being shared to all states of the federation?

— Maazi Ezeoke (@MaaziEzeoke) November 9, 2020

In 2019, a lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Sanusi Lafiagi, spoke against the contentious issue of VAT on alcoholic beverages in an interview with PUNCH.

When asked if it is right then for Hisbah to destroy beer bottles, he said:

“My understanding is that the Hisbah board is established by state law and as such has legitimate functions.

“Thus, if part of its functions is to destroy beer bottles, then so be it.

“It should be noted that states where Hisbah operates are predominantly Muslim states where the Sharia is presumably in operation.

“As a result, the sale and consumption of beer cannot be allowed in such areas. Hisbah cannot carry out illegal operations not assigned to it by law.”

However, on the rightfulness for Sharia-compliant states to receive a share of the VAT (Value Added Tax) on beer, he asserted:

“No, it is not right for them to share from the proceeds of haram things. That would amount to double standards.

“Islam forbids the sale of beer and partaking in the proceeds from such haram product is haram.

Sharia-compliant states must have nothing to do with the proceeds of alcohol, if they are sincere in their practice of the Sharia. This is the truth.”

Read also: Lecturer: It’s Abhorable For Sharia States To Share VAT On Alcohol