Blasphemy: Kano cleric sentenced to death by hanging
Cleric: "I'm not begging for leniency, am ready to die as a hero"
A Kano Upper Sharia court on Thursday, sentenced the controversial Kano Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara, to death by hanging.
After over a two-hour judgement, Khadi Ibrahim Sarki Yola, pronounced his ruling, saying: "This Honorable Court is convinced that the prosecution counsel had proven their case beyond reasonable doubt, thereafter, the court has convicted the defendant of all the charges levelled against him, hence, sentenced him to death by hanging.”
The Judge also ordered the State Government to seize the two mosques belonging to Abduljabbar, calling on media houses to refrain from airing or publishing any of the nconvicted scholar’s teachings and pictures.
After the judgment, the convict was given 30 days within which to appeal the judgment.
Earlier, during the court session, Counsel to the defendant, Barrister Aminu Ado Abubakar, prayed the Court to accord leniency to the accused person for he did what he did out of ignorance.
But immediately after Barrister Abubakar's prayer, a drama ensued when Sheikh Abduljabbar stood up and said he did not know the lawyer who claimed to be his counsel.
He said "I do not 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.”
The trial Judge, however, responded that the lawyer was recognized by the court as the defence counsel.
Abduljabbar then vehemently stated: "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.
Sheikh Kabara said that he was not begging for any leniency; "I am ready to die and I will die like an hero"
He told the judge: "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.”
