Blasphemy: Court Sets Aside Death Sentence Of Kano Singer, Discharges Teenager
The court, in another appeal, also set aside the judgement and sentencing of Umar Faruk, a 13-year-old boy who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment
by SaharaReporters, New York
Jan 21, 2021
The appeal division of the Kano State High Court has set aside the death sentence passed on Aminu Yahaya Sharif, a Kano singer, charged with blasphemy.
The two-man panel of the court, in a judgment on the appeal filed by Sharif, ordered a retrial of the case on the grounds that the whole proceedings at the lower court were characterised with irregularities.
The court according to Punch also ordered a retrial of the case against Sharif.
The singer was on August 10, 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy by an Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kano.
Shariff, however, appealed the judgement days after the court pronouncement.
While delivering the judgement on Thursday, January 21, 2021, the State Chief
Judge Nuraddeen Sagir said the lower court’s proceedings were characterised by irregularities.
The judge also ordered that the case be tried before a different judge, adding that Sharif should be granted full legal representation. Source: Pulse Nigeria