Lagos Unrest Forces Kano Court To Adjourn Blasphemy Case

A Kano state high court has postponed the hearing of a case involving one Yahaya Sharif-Aminu who was sentenced to death by a shariah Court for insulting prophet Muhammad (S. A.W)

On August 10, Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging after he was “found guilty” of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

Ekohotblog had reported how the development sparked outrage within and outside Nigeria.

In spite of the verdict condemnation, the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria upheld and asked Kano state government to execute the court judgment.

Sharif-Aminu’s counsel, Kola Alanipini, had approached the high court to challenge the judgement, he implore the court to overturn it.

On Monday, the court adjourned the appeal case following the absence of the appellant over the unrest in Lagos.

In the past few days, there has been chaos and violence across Lagos as hoodlums attacked buildings owned by government and private individuals.

The appellant sent in their message through a representative, Zubairu Suleiman Usman, seeking an adjournment on the premises that they were served on a short notice and could not make it down due to some “serious issues” in Lagos.

Nuraddeen Sagir, chief judge of Kano, who presided over the sitting, granted their request and adjourned the case till November 26 to enable the respondents serve the appellant notice in good time.

“The court is aware of the unrest in Lagos and as a result of this adjourn till 26th November. And the respondents shall serve the appellant in good time,” the judge said.

Musa Lawan, counsel to the respondents (state government and the attorney general of the state), said an application will be filed before the court to enable it serve the appellant through substituted means in good time for them to respond before the adjourned date.