Prominent Kano cleric Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), alleging deliberate del...
Prominent Kano cleric Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), alleging deliberate delays and irregularities in the handling of his appeal against a death sentence for blasphemy.
The petition, filed under Appeal No. CA/KN/01/2025 and Suit No. K/93CA/2022, urges the nation’s highest judicial officer to ensure a fair and expedited hearing. In his correspondence, Sheikh Kabara raised concerns about administrative bottlenecks that he claims are intentionally stalling the appeal, difficulties in obtaining complete records of proceedings from the Kano State High Court, and the impact of the political and social sensitivity of the case on judicial neutrality.
Sheikh Kabara was sentenced to death by hanging in December 2022 by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano, presided over by Mallam Ibrahim Sarki Yola, after being found guilty of making blasphemous statements against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during his preachings. Following the conviction, he filed an appeal challenging the judgment on grounds including alleged denial of a fair hearing, questions over the trial court’s jurisdiction, and the assertion that his statements were scholarly excerpts, not intended as blasphemy.
In his petition, Sheikh Kabara calls on the CJN to exercise supervisory powers over the judiciary to ensure that the Kano Appeal Court, or an alternative division, hears the matter without further interference. He maintains his innocence and asserts that a transparent judicial process will vindicate him.
As of this report, the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria has not responded to the petition, while the Kano State Government continues to uphold the validity of the original conviction.
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