•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
An Upper Sharia Court sitting in Kano has sentenced controversial Islamic cleric, Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara to death by hanging over blasphemy.
The court presided over by Khadi Ibrahim Sarki Yola, had convicted the embattled cleric after finding him guilty of the charge of blasphemy leveled against him.
The presiding judge, ordered the state government to seize the two mosques belonging to Abduljabbar.
Khadi Ibrahim Sarki Yola also urged all media to refrain from using any of Abduljabbar’s teachings and pictures.
The court admitted that the comments were made at a gathering at the cleric’s mosque at ‘Gwale Filin Mushe’ while addressing his followers who hailed him as he made the comments.
“The court after citing several references agreed that those comments by the cleric were admitted by the court as blasphemous comments against the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“The prosecutors also convinced the court that the accused person deliberately interpreted the religious books and fabricated the blasphemous comments against the Holy Prophet Muhammad,”
“I am convinced that the prosecution counsel has done their part and proven their points beyond a reasonable doubt,” the judge said
Before pronouncing the sentence, the judge asked if the convict had anything to say.
Subsequently, Aminu Abubakar, who appeared as the defence counsel, asked the court to be lenient with the accused, adding that he acted out of ignorance.
However, the cleric interjected and denied knowing the lawyer.
“I don’t know him. This is the first time I am seeing him. He should not be allowed to speak on my behalf. I can and should be allowed to speak for myself,” he said.
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Speaking further, Abduljabbar said: “My lord, after I heard how you twisted all my evidence, you turned around all my submissions upside down, you have assigned words to me that I have never uttered.
“Deliver your judgement, and I am not asking for leniency at all. I want all my followers to know that I will die a hero and I don’t want you (the Judge) Ibrahim Sarki Yola to do me any favour or grant me leniency. This is my last word. Assalamu Alaikum.”
The judge,then sentenced Mr Kabara to death by hanging
The Judge said, according to Kano State’s laws,,his judgement relied on ‘Section 382 subsection(B) of the Shariah Appeal Court 2000’
“Whoever in any means publicly insults by using words or expression in writing, verbal means or gesture which shows or demonstrates in form or contempt or abuse against the Holy Quran or any prophet of God shall be liable to death,” the judge said
The convict(Mr Kabara) has 30 days to appeal the judgment or forfeit his right to appeal.