BLASPHEMY: Court of Appeal upholds retrial of Kano singer
The Court of Appeal, Kano Division, on Wednesday, upheld the verdict by a Kano State High Court which ordered for the retrial of Kano Singer, Yahaya Sharif Aminu, over alleged blasphemy.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Abubakar M. Lamido and concurred by Justice B. M. Ugo affirmed the retrial of the singer while the Presiding justice, Ita G. Mbaba dissented to the verdict wherein he discharged and acquitted the appellant for the offence charged.
It could be recalled that Yahaya Sharif Aminu was said to have sometimes in 2020 committed blasphemy against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and was dragged before an Upper Shariah Court which convicted and sentenced him to death.
Not satisfied with the death sentence verdict, Yahaya Sharif Aminu through his lawyer, Kola Alapinni however appealed the matter before the Kano State High Court (Appeal Division).
The Kano High Court (Appeal Division) presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu and in company of the State’s Chief Judge, Justice Nura Sagir while giving their judgment, ordered that the trial be remitted to the same upper Shari’a court but assigned to another Judge and the defendant be provided with legal representation during the retrial.
During the judgment delivered virtually (Zoom) on Wednesday, two of the three justices, Abubakar M. Lamido (JCA) and B. M. Ugo concurred in their verdicts , however dismissed the appeal and affirmed the retrial of the singer.
On the legality of the constitutionality of the Kano State Shari’a Law 2020 challenged by the appellant, the trio of Abubakar M. Lamido (JCA), B. M. Ugo and Ita G. Mbaba agreed on the Constitutionality of the law.
