Court Orders Provision Of Representative For Cleric On Blasphemy Trial In Kano

The Upper Shari’a Court presiding over the blasphemous case against Kano cleric, Sheikh AbdulJabbar Sheikh Nasiru Kabara has ordered the Legal Aid Council Of Nigeria to provide a legal representation for the cleric standing trial for blasphemy.

Kano State Government charged Sheikh Kabara with four counts bordering on blasphemous statements he made in some of his preaching against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on 10 August 2019, October 25, 2019, and December 2019 2019.

In the resumed sitting on Thursday, the defendant told the court that his lawyers have withdrawn their services after a complaint of professional misconduct and extortion he wrote against them.

This is the third time the cleric would have his lawyers fired for similar accusations.

” I ordered my lawyers to withdraw from my case. We had some agreements on how the case should be but they conspired and betrayed me with a certificate tendering electronic exhibit signed by a prosecutor in Plateau.

” Some lawyers told me that the certificate could mar my case,” he said.

Kabara told the court to proceed with the case.

”I am still trying to get a new lawyer. I failed three times to engage the services of counsel but I was turned down,” he said.

The Prosecution Counsel, Nasiru Adamu-Aliyu SAN, told the court they received a letter from the defense counsel withdrawing his services on the grounds that his client made so many allegations against him.

He urged the court to give the defendant an opportunity to get a new lawyer or order the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to provide a lawyer for him based on the sensitivity of the case.

“Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended is paramount that in capital offence a defendant need to be presented by a lawyer”

After listening to both parties, the presiding judge, Ibrahim Sarki-Yola, ordered the council to provide a lawyer for the defendant in the interest of justice.

He adjourned the case until May 26 for the continuation of the hearing.

 

NAN