The Kano Division of the Court of Appeal has ordered Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara's legal team to submit the books used as evidence in his blasphemy trial as part of his appeal against a death sentence handed down by an Upper Shari'a Court in 2022 .
Court Order and Appeal Proceedings
Justice Nasir Saminu, who presided over the hearing, ruled that the appellate court requires the documentation to properly review the case. Kabara's defense team has been directed to produce the materials from the original trial .
The embattled cleric is challenging his conviction and death sentence on grounds that the lower court's judgment should be overturned and all charges dismissed. Meanwhile, government lawyers are pushing for the original conviction and sentence to be upheld .
Background of the Case
Sheikh Abduljabbar was arraigned on July 16, 2021, by the Kano State Government on four counts of blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad. The offences were allegedly committed on August 10, October 25, and December 20, 2019, during sermons at his mosques .
The prosecution argued that Kabara made blasphemous comments regarding Prophet Muhammad's marriage to Nana Safiyya in specific hadith references and posted content on his Facebook page, Ashabul Kahfi .
The Upper Shari'a Court at Kofar Kudu, presided over by Malam Ibrahim Sarki-Yola, sentenced Kabara to death by hanging on December 15, 2022, after finding the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt .
During the original trial, Kabara defended himself by tendering 189 books as exhibits and maintained he was merely translating hadith rather than making blasphemous statements .
Legal Proceedings and Complications
The appeal process has faced multiple complications. Kabara has twice disengaged his legal counsel, including his lawyer Sadiq Yusuf in May 2024 . He currently represents himself in the appeal, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution to support his right to self-representation .
In April 2026, the Court of Appeal struck out an earlier appeal filed by Kabara for being incompetent, returning the case to the Kano State Chief Judge for expeditious adjudication at the High Court appellate division . The panel advised that a capital offence requires legal representation, particularly in appeals arising from Shariah proceedings .
Document Access Concerns
Kabara has also filed a petition seeking relocation from Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja back to Kurmawa Correctional Centre in Kano . He argues that his transfer on October 14, 2025, denied him access to vital case documents—over 5,000 pages of proceedings and legal briefs—that remain at Kurmawa Prison .
He has requested the court to suspend further proceedings until he can verify the completeness and authenticity of these records .
The Court of Appeal has yet to set a date for hearing his application regarding the documentation and prison transfer .
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