Blasphemy: Absence of Sheikh Kabara in court prompts hearing notice order

The Kano State High Court, Appeal Division, has issued an order for the service of a hearing notice on Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, a Kano cleric who was earlier sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy.

Sheikh Abduljabbar and his counsel, Sadiq Yusuf, were noticeably absent when the case was called before the court.

Recalling the verdict handed down by an Upper Shari’a Court on December 15, 2022, which sentenced Abduljabbar to death by hanging for blasphemy, the two-member appeal panel, presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu and Justice Aisha Mahmoud, directed the service of a hearing notice upon the cleric following an application by the Kano State government.

The panel, in addition to granting the respondent’s plea for an extension of time, adjourned the matter until May 14 for further proceedings. During the session, state counsel Bashir Saleh appraised the court of the absence of both the appellant and his legal representative, urging the court to serve the hearing notice to the appellant’s counsel.

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Saleh further presented two applications for extension of time, dated May 5, and submitted a counter affidavit comprising seven paragraphs, sworn by Abdulhadi Garko, supporting the state’s plea for an extension.

“In light of the absence of the appellant’s counsel, it is imperative that the hearing notice be served accordingly. At the last adjourned date, he assured the court of filing his counter affidavit today,” Saleh said.

Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara had filed an appeal at the Appeal Division of the Kano State High Court contesting the record of proceedings of the lower court (Upper Shari’a). Additionally, he seeks the court’s interpretation of sections 275 and 375 of the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law 2000, pertaining to the offence for which he was sentenced to death.