The Court of Appeal in Kano has upheld the judgement of the Kano High Court (Appeal Division), ordering the retrial of a 22-year-old musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 after being convicted of blasphemy by an upper Sharia court presided over by Muhammad Aliyu Kani in the state. He was accused of one count of insulting the religious creed, contrary to Section 382 (6) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000, for a series of audio messages circulated via WhatsApp which became public knowledge in March 2020.
The Court of Appeal in Kano will on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, deliver judgement on the appeal filed by 22-year-old musician Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 after being convicted of blasphemy. Sharif-Aminu belongs to the Tijaniyya order, a popular Sufi Islamic order across North and West Africa. He was accused of one count of insulting the religious creed, contrary to Section 382 (6) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000, for a series of audio messages circulated via WhatsApp which became public knowledge in March 2020.
Ibrahim Shauibu in Kano
Kano musician, Yayaha Aminu-Sharif, who was recently freed of death penalty passed on him for blasphemy, has filed an appeal against a retrial for the same offence.
The two-ground notice of appeal was filed at the Court of Appeal in Kano.
The appellate division of the High Court of Kano State had on January 21 quashed the death sentence passed on Aminu-Sharif by an Upper Sharia Court in August last year.
But the High Court, which cited irregularities in the Sharia Court’s previous trial, ordered that Aminu-Sharif be tried afresh by the same court.
The High Court’s judgment was delivered by a panel of two judges, comprising the Chief Judge of Kano State, Nuraddeen Umar, and Nasiru Saminu.
Blasphemy: Kano musician freed of death penalty appeals against retrial
Sharif-Aminu’s lawyer argues that he ought to be discharged and acquitted instead of being ordered to be tried for blasphemy afresh. 2 min read
A 22-year-old Kano musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was recently freed of death penalty passed on him for blasphemy, has filed an appeal against a retrial for the same offence.
PREMIUM TIMES on Monday obtained the two grounds notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal in Kano.
The appellate division of the High Court of Kano State had on January 21 quashed the death sentence passed on Mr Sharif-Aminu by an Upper Sharia Court in August last year.