Sheikh Kabara Abduljabbar was condemned to death by hanging on Thursday by a Kano Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kofar Kudu, Kano.
In its judgement, which lasted for over two hours, Khadi (judge) Ibrahim Yola said, “This honourable court is convinced that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, prompting the court to convict the defendant of all the charges levelled against him and sentence him to death by hanging.”
The judge also instructed the state government to seize the two mosques that belonged to Abduljabbar and urged media outlets to refrain from airing or disseminating any of the scholar’s teachings or images. The offender then had 30 days to file an appeal of the ruling, according to the court.
Aminu Abubakar, the defendant’s attorney, had earlier asked the court to be kind with the accused, claiming that Abduljabbar was illiterate. But when Abduljabbar got up and declared he didn’t know the attorney, a small incident broke out.
“I don’t 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,” he said.
However, the judge stated that the attorney was acknowledged by the court as the defense attorney. Abduljabbar continued, “My lord, I heard how you twisted all my evidence, turned around all my submissions upside down, and assigned words to me that I never uttered.
“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.” The state administration filed a blasphemy case against the cleric in July 2021.
