Blasphemy: Kano cleric disengages lawyer

A Kano Cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, who was sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy, has disengage his lawyer, Sadiq Yusuf, to discontinue his case at the State High Court Division of Appeal.

NEWSVERGE reports that an Upper Shari’a Court on Dec.15, 2022, sentenced Abduljabbar to death by hanging for blasphemy.

Abduljabbar, filed a suit through his counsel, Sadiq Yusuf, challenging the record of proceedings of the lower court(Upper Shari’a).

The appallent is also seeking the court to amend section 275 and 375 of Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000, he was convicted on.

The respondent in the suit: Kano State Government.

When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, the state counsel, Bashir Saleh, told the court that they were served with a letter dated May 10, signed by the appallent himself that he has disengage the services of his counsel Yusuf.

“So being a constitutional matter, My lord we can not not proceed with this matter”.

Saleh urged the court to strike out the two appallent’s motion on notice prayers dated Feb.22 and March 2, 2024 affidavit of facts challenging the record of proceedings of the lower court.

In a ruling delivered,Justice Nasiru Saminu, said the respondent application is premature and therefore dismissed the application.

He refered the matter to the next appeal session, to enable the appallent secure a new counsel.

The appallent committed the offence on Aug.10, Oct.25 and Dec.20, 2019 while conducting his preachings at his two mosque.

The state counsel said that Kabara made a blasphemous comment against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his marriage with Nana Safiyya in hadith 1,365, 1,428, 2,326 and 5,120 Sahih-Bukhari and Muslim and posted it on his Facebook page Ashabul Kahfi.

The offence, he said contravened the provisions of sections 382(b) and 375 of Kano State Shari’a Law 2000.