Blasphemy: Court To Rule On Abduljabbar’s Bail Application March 31

An Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kano has fixed March 31 for ruling in a bail application by a Kano cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru-Kabara, who is standing trial for alleged blasphemy.

Nasiru-Kabara is facing a four-count charge bordering on blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The trial judge, Malam Ibrahim Sarki-Yola, adjourned the matter until March 31 for ruling in the bail application and continuation of defence.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the defence counsel, Garzali Abdulra’uf, made a fresh bail application under Section 36 (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Suraj Sa’eda (SAN), however, objected to the bail application, citing Section 171 of the Kano State ACJL, 2019.

Earlier, the defendant told the court that the prosecution witnesses, PW1 and PW4, in their testimony did not know the meaning of rape.

“Rape is having sexual intercourse without the consent of a woman.

“In my preachings, I was only trying to protect Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from the comments against him on snatching, rape and his marriage with Nana Safiyya,” he said.

The defendant also narrated that he only translated what he saw in the Hadith and not his interpretation. (NAN)