§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Prime Minister if he raised the case of Safiyatu Hussaini during his meetings with representatives of the Nigerian Government in February. [44895]
§ The Prime MinisterThe case was not raised during my meetings, which focused on other issues.
The Nigerian Government is well aware of the Government's concerns over the sentence of death by stoning passed on Safiyatu Hussaini. We have made our concerns over the case known at a number of levels within the Nigerian federal system.
Ms Hussaini's case is currently before Sokoto State Sharia Court of Appeal, which has said it will give its decision on the appeal on 25 March. If the sentence is confirmed, there is scope for further appeals thereafter. Ms Hussaini is supported by a strong legal team and the Nigerian Human Rights Commission.
The British High Commission in Abuja is continuing to monitor the situation closely.