Disciples of Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, a controversial cleric from Kano who was sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy against the prophet of Islam, have raised the alarm over an alleged plot to sabotage his appeal against the judgment. Speaking at a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano, the followers of the sheikh joined their voices to denounce a gang-up by adversaries working against their efforts to get justice for the cleric.
It would be recalled that a Sharia Court in Kano had initially passed judgment, sentencing the Sheikh to death by hanging. But his loyal followers have since filed an appeal before a High Court of Justice, dissatisfied with the earlier verdict and in line with the constitutional right of appeal.
While addressing the press, Ibrahim Abdullahi Warure representing the Sheikh’s disciples, claimed that they had gathered intelligence suggesting that the same clerics who had ganged up against the sheikh initially and caused his arraignment in court had started issuing threats to the incoming administration of Kano State and the court where the appeal was filed. “We condemn their endemic campaign of calumny against our revered sheikh and their threat to the court, which we consider contempt of court and government. We also view it as a sinister plan to disrupt the peace of the state and country, should Sheikh Abduljabbar eventually triumph in court,” he said.
The group called on relevant authorities and security agencies to quell the conflagration by cautioning the unscrupulous clerics to stop their adversarial hate speech and instead prioritize the welfare and rights of all citizens irrespective of their religious affiliations or beliefs. The disciples of Sheikh Abduljabbar also reminded everyone that they too are bonafide citizens of the country who deserve equal rights and protection under the law.
