A cleric, Sheikh Kabara Abduljabbar, who was sentenced to death by hanging by a Kano Upper Shari’a Court, sitting at Kofar Kudu, Kano, on Thursday, has said he will die a hero.
Religion Nigeria had reported that the cleric was sentenced to death by the presiding judge, Ibrahim Yola, for blasphemy.
“This honourable court is convinced that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, prompting the court to convict the defendant of all the charges levelled against him and sentence him to death by hanging.” the judge stated.
The judge also urged media outlets to refrain from broadcasting or publishing any of the convicted scholar’s teachings or images, and ordered the state government to seize Abduljabbar’s two mosques.
The convict then had 30 days to file an appeal of the ruling, according to the court.
The defendant’s attorney, Aminu Abubakar, had earlier asked the court to be lenient toward the accused, claiming that Abduljabbar was illiterate.
But when Abduljabbar got up and declared he didn’t know the attorney, a small drama broke out.
“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.
However, the judge stated that the attorney was acknowledged by the court as the defense attorney.
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 state government charged the cleric in July 2021 on blasphemy charges.