Document 7: Native Court Byelaws or Rules, Sokoto Province (1916)

Rules and Byelaws made under Native Courts Ordinance Section 24 for Gando Emirate, by the Sarkin Gando in Council and consultation with the Alkalin Gando.

Slavery. 1. Any man who ransoms a slave except before the Alkali commits an offence; his punishment is imprisonment at the discretion of the judge up to 12 months and £10 fine.

2. All children born since the 31st March, 1901 A.D. are free. Any Alkali who ransoms a slave without seeing it commits a crime and will be dealt with by the Judicial Council.

Signed Sar. Gwandu Muhamadu and G. Malcolm²

Native Court Rulings, forwarded by Malcolm, 14 July 1917

Rules made under the Native Courts Ordinance Section 24 for Argungu Emirate, drawn up by the Sarikin Kebbi in Council and in consultation with the Alkalin Argungu.

Slavery. The object of this Law is that all people born since 31st March, 1901 shall be free.

(a) Any person who holds in slavery or accepts ransom money for a child born since March 31st, 1901, has committed an offence, and is liable to imprisonment up to six months with or without a fine not exceeding ten pounds.

(b) Any person who ransoms a slave without reference to a Native Court has committed an offence and is liable to imprisonment up to three months with or without a fine not exceeding five pounds.

(c) Any person who deals in any slave or reduces a free person to slavery is liable to imprisonment up to one year with or without a fine not exceeding ten pounds.

Signed Hailu, Emir of Argungu, 6 July 1917.

Translated as:

Bayi da Fansa

1. Kowane mutum wanda ya damra fansan Bawa ko Baiwa ba Gidan Alkali ba ya yi laifi; shariyan sa damri iyankansa shekara guda da tara pam goma asma da rangamin Alkali.

2. Duka yara da anka haifa tun zakuwan Turawa wato ran lahadi goma ga watan Zulhija shekaran Hijra dubu da dari usu da goma sha takwas diya suke. Kowane Alkali wanda ya ba da damrin fansa bai ko gani wanda ake fansa ba ya yi laifi; shariyan sa sai Sarkin Gando da maajelissan nai.