Alleged blasphemy: Court to deliver ruling in cleric’s bail application March 31

An Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kano had fixed March 31, for ruling in a bail application by Kano cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru-Kabara, who is standing trial for alleged blasphemy.

Nasiru-Kabara was earlier arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Aug.10, Oct.25 and Dec.20, 2019.

The trial Judge, Malam Ibrahim Sarki-Yola, adjourned the matter until March 31 for ruling in the bail application and continuation of defence.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the defence counsel, Mr Ambali Obomeileh-Muhammad, SAN,who was represented by Mr Garzali Abdulra’uf, made a fresh bail application under Section 36 (6) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

He said, “If the defendant is granted bail, we will not jump bail.”

The prosecution counsel, Mr Suraj Sa’eda, SAN, however objected to the bail application, citing Section 171 of the Kano state ACJL,2019.

“A person standing trial on capital offence punishable to death shall not be granted bail,” he argued.

Earlier, led in evidence by the defence counsel, the defendant told the court that the prosecution witnesses, PW1 and PW4, in their testimony did not know the meaning of rape.

“Rape is having a sexual intercourse without the consent of a woman.

”In my preachings I was only trying to protect Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from the comments against him on snatching, rape and his marriage with Nana Safiyya,” he said.

The defendant also narrated that he only translated what he saw in the Hadith. It is not his interpretation.

“Qulumul Hadith, Page 223, says if Hadith is more than one and are many, you can preach on it at a time if it is based on meaning.

“I am ready to present an audio of my preachings which I was protecting Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) against the comments,” he added.

The defendant tendered 54 books as exhibits.

Our correspondent reports that Nasiru-Kabara was alleged to have made some blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) regarding his marriage with Nana Safiyya.