Kano cleric gets death sentence, says I’ll die a hero

A Kano Upper Shari’a Court, sitting at Kofar Kudu, Kano, on Thursday sentenced a cleric, Sheikh Kabara Abduljabbar, to death by hanging.

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 reasonable doubt, prompting the court to convict the defendant of all the charges levelled against him and sentence him to death by hanging.”

Also, the judge ordered the state government to impound the two mosques belonging to Abduljabbar, calling on media houses to restrain from airing or publishing any of the convicted scholar’s teachings and pictures.

Thereafter, the court gave the convict 30 days to appeal the judgment.

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Earlier, counsel for the defendant, Aminu Abubakar, prayed the court to accord leniency to the accused, saying he (Abduljabbar) was ignorant.

However, a mild drama ensued when Abduljabbar stood up and said he did not know the lawyer.

“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.

The judge, however, said the counsel was recognised by the court as the defence counsel.

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 cleric was accused of blasphemy and charged in July 2021 by the state government.