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Blasphemy: Court rejects Kano cleric’s request to transfer case

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Wednesday, rejected application for transfer of case to Abuja by a Kano scholar, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara.

Kabara through his counsel, Dalhatu Usman, had earlier applied for transfer of his trial to a different court, preferably in Abuja.

He accused the Kano Shari’a Court of not giving a fair trial and collision with his complainants.

Usman informed the court that his client wants the suit to be transferred to another vacation court judge in Abuja.

“My Lord, my client said he has lost confidence in this court that he will not have fair hearing,” he said.

Usman alleged that the presiding judge had a meeting with the Attorney-General of Kano State on Wednesday (today) prior to the court sitting.

Counsel to the respondents, Dahuru Muhammad, told the court that at about 9 a.m on Wednesday, counsel to the applicant served him another copy of the fundamental rights suit filed in Abuja.

“The filing of another breach of fundamental human rights suit while this is pending is an abuse of court process, “he said.

In his ruling, Justice Abdullahi Liman, refused to transfer or strike out the fundamental rights suit.

“I will ignore the reasons for the transfer of the suit and the visit of the Attorney-General of Kano State should not be associated with this suit.

“The allegations seem to be untrue. One party is not entitled to choose a particular court or judge his case should be tried,” Justice Liman said while adjourning the matter until September 22, for a hearing.

The applicant is standing trial before a Kano Upper Shari’a Court for alleged blasphemy.

The Kano State Government charged Kabara with four counts bordering on blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, on August 10, October 25, and December 20, 2019.

It would be recalled that the applicant, on July 21, sought transfer of his ongoing trial of alleged blasphemy to another judge in a different court.

The Star