A Kano State high court (appeal division) has set aside the death sentence imposed on Yahya Sharif Aminu, a Kano-based singer, convicted for blasphemy.
In the judgment delivered yesterday by the state Chief Judge, Justice Nuraddeen Sagir, the court held that the lower court’s proceedings were characterised by irregularities.
According to him, the judgement of an upper Sharia court contravened section 2-6-9 of the administration of criminal justice act.
The court ordered a retrial of the case against Sharif, who had filed an appeal to challenge the sentence.
It also ordered that Sharif should be granted full legal representation and that the case should be tried before a different judge.
It would be recalled that a Shariah court in Kano had sentenced the musician to death on August 10, 2020 after he was found guilty of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad in a song.
Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, had said he would not waste time in signing Aminu’s death warrant.
The United Kingdom had opposed the death penalty passed on the singer, saying people have the right to freely express opinions and peacefully challenge authorities.
In October, Aminu’s lawyers filed an appeal at the state appeal court.
Sagir also set aside the judgement and sentencing of Umar Faruk, a 13-year-old boy who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment over blasphemy.
