Blasphemy: Court sentences Kano Islamic cleric, Abduljabbar to death

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

An Upper Shari’a Court, sitting in Kano State, yesterday sentenced a fiery Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara to death by hanging.

Kabara was standing trial over balsphemous statements against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in some of his preaching sessions.

He was found guilty of blasphemous statements against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in some of his preaching sessions.

The offences, according to Mr Sarki-Yola, contravene to sections 382 and 375 of Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law 2000.

Delivering the judgement, the judge said that the convict had failed to defend himself beyond reasonable doubt.

Mr Sarki-Yola said “The court gave him enough time to show the authentic sources of his narrations but failed to prove his assertions.

“The prosecution has established that the blasphemous words used by Abduljabbar during his commentaries was fabricated not in line with his references from the books of Imam Malik and Imam Bukhari,”

The trial judge then upheld that section 382 (B) of Kano State Sharia Penal Code 2000 provides that “any person whosoever found using any expression by means of words, gesture abusing the Holy Prophet Muhammad shall be convicted to death.”

I, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, Upper Sharia Court Judge City Number One, I found you Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara committing an act contrary to section 283 (B) of Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law 2000, I therefore sentence you to death by hanging.

 “I similarly order the total closure of your mosques located at Filin Mushe Gwale Local Government and Jamiurrasul located at Sharada,” the judge ordered.

Mr Sarki-Yola similarly banned the use of the convict’s preachings in all radio stations in the state.

“I ordered for the consfication of all his 189 books he tendered during the trial before the court and be transferred to Kano state library,”

 Immediately after the sentence, the judge then asked Mr Abduljabbar if he had anything to say in mitigation of his sentence.

 He replied to the court that “I’m telling my followers not to despair, I will die with the honour of good men.

“I prayed for quick execution without any delay,” he concluded.

Reacting to the death sentence shortly after it was delivered, the Kano State Attoney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister M. A. Lawan said the sentence passed on the Islamic Scholar would be enforced to its logical conclusion.