Court Rejects Kano Cleric’s Prayer To Set Aside Verdict On Blasphemy Debate

A Kano State High Court presided over by the state Chief Judge,
Justice Nura Sagir, on Thursday declined to set aside the
proceedings, verdict and recommendations of Prof. Salisu Shehu, an
umpire of the debate between Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara and some
Kano Islamic scholars.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Sagir upheld that Abduljabbar
chose to attend the debate conducted on July 10, 2021 on his own
volition, emphasising that he was not coerced into the venue.

The judge also noted that the debate (Muqabala) was not a
judicial proceeding, as the court had the jurisdiction to quash or
make review on judicial proceedings alone, not debate or dialogue,
stressing that debate was an academic exercise between scholars who
had different opinion or belief.

Furthermore, Justice Sagir said Abduljabbar agreed with the
terms of the debate in his reply to the Kano State Governor and
therefore declined to grant the prayer to review and quashed the
proceeding, verdict and recommendations delivered by Prof.
Shehu.

Earlier, it was reported that counsel for Sheikh Abduljabbar,
Mr. Saleh Bakaro, approached the court through an ex-parte prayer,
asking the court to quash the proceedings, verdict and
recommendations of Professor Shehu.

The counsel alleged that Sheikh Abduljabbar was not accorded
fair hearing to defend himself during the debate.

Recall that at the end of the dialogue, the umpire of the
proceeding, Prof. Shehu, pointed out that Sheikh Abduljabbar failed
to answer all the questions raised by the scholars.

A Kano State High Court presided over by the state Chief Judge,
Justice Nura Sagir, on Thursday declined to set aside the
proceedings, verdict and recommendations of Prof. Salisu Shehu, an
umpire of the debate between Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara and some
Kano Islamic scholars.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Sagir upheld that Abduljabbar
chose to attend the debate conducted on July 10, 2021 on his own
volition, emphasising that he was not coerced into the venue.

The judge also noted that the debate (Muqabala) was not a
judicial proceeding, as the court had the jurisdiction to quash or
make review on judicial proceedings alone, not debate or dialogue,
stressing that debate was an academic exercise between scholars who
had different opinion or belief.

Furthermore, Justice Sagir said Abduljabbar agreed with the
terms of the debate in his reply to the Kano State Governor and
therefore declined to grant the prayer to review and quashed the
proceeding, verdict and recommendations delivered by Prof.
Shehu.

Earlier, it was reported that counsel for Sheikh Abduljabbar,
Mr. Saleh Bakaro, approached the court through an ex-parte prayer,
asking the court to quash the proceedings, verdict and
recommendations of Professor Shehu.

The counsel alleged that Sheikh Abduljabbar was not accorded
fair hearing to defend himself during the debate.

Recall that at the end of the dialogue, the umpire of the
proceeding, Prof. Shehu, pointed out that Sheikh Abduljabbar failed
to answer all the questions raised by the scholars.