DNA Test Can't Prove Safiya's Allegation, Says Expert

A medical specialist doctor at the University of Cambridge, London, Dr. Kabir Ghali Az-Zubair, has dismissed as baseless calls by various individuals and human rights organisations for the use DNA test in determining the paternity of the child of Safiya Hussaini, the woman who has been sentenced to death by Sharia court over adultery.

Dr. Kabir, who disclosed this yesterday while speaking on a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service programme monitored in Abuja, said a DNA test was not the solution to the problem.

His words: "DNA test is a difficult thing which only developed countries with experienced doctors employ. Even in the developed countries, there have been a lot of negative results in some instances. So, if a woman alleged that another person impregnated her, and there are no witnesses, DNA test can't be relied upon, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, which has few experts in the field.

"I can give you no fewer than 10 examples where DNA tests were conducted but the results we received contradicted what we had expected."

Kabir's statement is coming just two days after the Minister of State for Justice, Musa Elayo Abdullahi in a press statement signed by his press secretary, Mrs. Bode Akinola, stated that the Federal Government would not intervene in Safiya's case.

He maintained that it is against the rule of law in the country for the Federal Government to intervene in a matter, which is before the court.