Blasphemy: Court officials frustrate musician’s death penalty appeal

Yahaya Sharif Aminu, Kano-based musician who was sentenced to death for blasphemy, has had his numerous attempts to appeal frustrated in different ways. The most recent attempt was stalled again on Tuesday as officials of the Upper Sharia Court in Kano State refused to make available certified true copies of the judgment.

Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death on August 10, 2020, for blaspheming Prophet Mohammed, was given a grace of 30 days by the court to appeal the judgment. The grace period would lapse on Wednesday, September 9.

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In order for the appeal to be accepted at the Court of Appeal, the convict is expected to personally sign the notice of the appeal, while certified copies of the original judgment will be attached to it.

It was however learnt that Sharif-Aminu had been denied access to his lawyers and the Sharia court officials had also failed to provide copies of the judgment.

Confirming the development to journalists on Tuesday, Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), said he has continued to make efforts to get the judgment. He stated there was a need for things to move quickly since Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had said last week said he would sign the convict’s death warrant once the time for the appeal lapsed.

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“They have not released the judgment and time is running out. And if we cannot obtain copies of the judgment, we cannot appeal. They have just been saying the judgment is not ready and the days are counting,” Falana said.

It will be recalled that the musician was accused of committing blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed in a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March 2020. The song, which was said to elevate Inyass over the Prophet, sparked a lot of outrage across Kano metropolis. Consequently, angry youths burnt down Sharif Aminu’s family home and led a protest to the Sharia Police, Hisbah, demanding his death.

Some human rights activists in Kano told newsmen that many lawyers had refused to take up Sharif-Aminu’s case because of the volatile nature of the state.

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An activist said, “Most of the human right lawyers in Kano that I have asked to take up the case have refused because they are afraid that their chambers could be burnt down or they could be attacked or killed for defending a blasphemer.

“And of course, when it comes to such sensitive religious matters, the police usually look the other way. The political leaders also keep mute or come out to support Sharia because they want to remain popular among their people.”

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The Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, which is very active in Kano and other states practising Sharia, had endorsed the death sentence, stating that the trial was fair.

However, global rights group, Amnesty International, had said in a statement that the musician, from all indications, was not given a fair hearing, and urged the governor to reverse the musician's death penalty.

Despite that, the governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, stated that he would not hesitate to sign the death warrant.