Ahmad Sani Yerima
Encyclopedia
Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima (b. 22 July 1960) was Governor of Zamfara State
, Nigeria
from May 1999 to May 2007, and is now Senator
for Zamfara West
. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party
(ANPP).
In January 2001 Ahmed Sani Yerima met the federal minister of Water Resources, Mohammed Bello Kaliel and told him that Gusau Dam could dry up soon, asking the Federal Government to transfer water from the Bakolori Dam
to Gusau
.
In June 2002, two groups in Zamfara State petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that Ahmed Sani Yerima had mismanaged and misappropriated Federal funds. The state government had made claims for improvement, dredging and repairs of a collapsed portion of the Gusau barrage at the cost of N14.2 million, resuscitation of the Barrage at N92million and de-siting of the Gusau Dam Barrage at N1.8 million. However, nothing appreciable had been done.
A controversial figure, he began the re-introduction of Sharia law in Nigeria
. On August 10th 2006 it was revealed that he unsuccessfully tried to bribe Nuhu Ribadu
of EFCC with N 1 million among other allegations of abuse of public funds.
He unsuccessfully attempted to clinch the party's presidential ticket for the presidential elections in 2007, but was eventually elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.He is presently the Minority Whip in the Federal Senate.
(ANPP) in April 2007. He was appointed to committees on Selection, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs, Drugs Narcotics Anti Corruption and Agriculture
Senator Sani is currently under investigation for a recent accusation of marrying a 13 year old child bride
from Egypt. This comes after an accusation in 2006 that he married a 15 year old child bride. He is being investigated for having violated Nigeria's Child Rights Act of 2003.
He has maintained that he has not violated sharia: "History tells us that Prophet Muhammad did marry a young girl as well. Therefore I have not contravened any law." According to Al Jazeera, he paid $ 100,000 as dowry
for the 13-year-old Egyptian.
Ahmed Sani Yerima ran again in the 9 April 2011 elections for Senator for Zamfara West on the ANPP platform. He was reelected with 154,359 votes.
Zamfara State
Zamfara State is a state in northwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Gusau and its Governor is Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari, a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party . Until 1996 the area was part of Sokoto State....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
from May 1999 to May 2007, and is now Senator
Senate of Nigeria
The Senate is the upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria. It consists of 109 senators: the 36 states are divided in 3 senatorial districts each electing one senator; the Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator....
for Zamfara West
Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Zamfara
The Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Zamfara comprises three Senators representing Zamfara West, Zamfara Central, and Zamfara North, and seven Representatives representing Bakura/Maradun, Gummi/Bukkuyum, Bungudu/Maru, Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji, Tsafe/Gusau, Zurmi/Shinkafi, and...
. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party
All Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP).
Background
Ahmed Rufai Sani was born on 22 July 1960 in Anka town, Zamfara State. He obtained a Master's Degree in Economics.Governor of Zamfara State
Ahmed Rufai Sani was governor of Zamfara State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.In January 2001 Ahmed Sani Yerima met the federal minister of Water Resources, Mohammed Bello Kaliel and told him that Gusau Dam could dry up soon, asking the Federal Government to transfer water from the Bakolori Dam
Bakolori Dam
The Bakolori Dam is in Sokoto State in the Northwest of Nigeria, completed in 1978 and its reservoir filled by 1981. It is a major reservoir on the Sokoto River, a tributary of the Rima River, which in turn feeds the Niger River...
to Gusau
Gusau
Gusau is a city and Local Government Area located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital of Zamfara State.The LGA has an area of 3,364 km² and a population of 383,162 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 880.-Geography:...
.
In June 2002, two groups in Zamfara State petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that Ahmed Sani Yerima had mismanaged and misappropriated Federal funds. The state government had made claims for improvement, dredging and repairs of a collapsed portion of the Gusau barrage at the cost of N14.2 million, resuscitation of the Barrage at N92million and de-siting of the Gusau Dam Barrage at N1.8 million. However, nothing appreciable had been done.
A controversial figure, he began the re-introduction of Sharia law in Nigeria
Sharia in Nigeria
In Nigeria, Sharia has been instituted as a main body of civil and criminal law in 9 Muslim-majority and in some parts of 3 Muslim-plurality states since 1999, when then-Zamfara State governor Ahmad Rufai Sani began the push for the institution of Sharia at the state level of government.-States:As...
. On August 10th 2006 it was revealed that he unsuccessfully tried to bribe Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
of EFCC with N 1 million among other allegations of abuse of public funds.
He unsuccessfully attempted to clinch the party's presidential ticket for the presidential elections in 2007, but was eventually elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.He is presently the Minority Whip in the Federal Senate.
Senate career
Ahmad Rufai Sani was elected Senator representing Zamfara West constituency for the All Nigeria People's PartyAll Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP) in April 2007. He was appointed to committees on Selection, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs, Drugs Narcotics Anti Corruption and Agriculture
Senator Sani is currently under investigation for a recent accusation of marrying a 13 year old child bride
Child marriage
Child marriage and child betrothal customs occur in various times and places, whereby children are given in matrimony - before marriageable age as defined by the commentator and often before puberty. Today such customs are fairly widespread in parts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America: in...
from Egypt. This comes after an accusation in 2006 that he married a 15 year old child bride. He is being investigated for having violated Nigeria's Child Rights Act of 2003.
He has maintained that he has not violated sharia: "History tells us that Prophet Muhammad did marry a young girl as well. Therefore I have not contravened any law." According to Al Jazeera, he paid $ 100,000 as dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
for the 13-year-old Egyptian.
Ahmed Sani Yerima ran again in the 9 April 2011 elections for Senator for Zamfara West on the ANPP platform. He was reelected with 154,359 votes.