Court of Appeal orders retrial of Kano musician sentenced to death for blasphemy

NIGERIA'S Court of Appeal sitting in Kano has ordered a retrial of the case involving singer Yahya Sharif-Aminu who was sentenced to death two years ago by a Sharia court after being found guilty of blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed.

On August 10, 2020, Mr Sharif-Aminu was found guilty of committing blasphemy in a song and a death sentence was handed to him by a Shari’a court in Kano. Widely condemned, the ruling led to widespread criticism among Nigerians but despite the public outcry, the Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria asked the Kano State government to execute the court judgment.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State also said he would not waste a minute when signing Mr Sharif-Aminu’s death sentence if he failed to file an appeal within 30 days. However, Mr Sharif-Aminu appealed the judgment in a suit filed through his counsel, Kola Alanipini and also challenged the judgment before the state high court.

Although the high court dismissed the death sentence, it denied the musician bail and ordered his re-trial before another Shari’a court judge. However, the singer’s lawyers kicked against the ruling and also appealed the verdict of the high court.

Mr Sharif-Aminu’s lawyer argued that he ought to be released from detention and that his re-trial should not take place at another Shari’a court. During the court session held via Zoom, yesterday, the appeal court upheld the initial judgment of the Kano High Court, which ordered the retrial of the case in the Shari’a court.

Two of the three judges had backed the defendants while one objected. No date has yet been fixed for the fresh trial and the singer is expected to remain in detention until the case is heard.