The Kano-based controversial cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, has petitioned Kano State Grand Khadi, Tijjani Yakasai alleging that the presiding judge, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, has become an interested party over the ongoing trial of alleged blasphemy against him.
The defendant informed the court that through his counsel, Barrister Dalhatu Shehu Usman has written a letter of complaints to the Grand Khadi seeking the transfer of the case to another judge, alleging that he will not get justice in as much as Yola presides over his case.
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The defendant is standing trial over the alleged Blasphemy against the Holy Prophet Muhammmad (SAW).
Recall that during the last court session, the defense counsel, Barrister Dalhatu Shehu Usman staged a walk out over the court’s stance of preventing him from making objections to the style of cross examination being conducted by the prosecution counsel.
Speaking to Journalists outside the courtroom, Barrister Usman alleged that the presiding judge has been teleguided by the Kano State Government.
When the case resumed Thursday for continuation, the Defense Counsel Barrister Usman was conspicuously absent.
The embattled Cleric told the court that his lawyer was not in court following his (cleric’s) petition to the Grand Khadi of the State.
When the presiding judge demanded to know why he needed his case to be transferred to another judge, he said, “I want the case to be transferred to another judge which has no relationship to both parties in the case.”
Kabara similarly told the court that in his defense, he earlier stated that his preachings were based on meaning after conducting a good research.
“My former set of lawyers harrased me and didn’t allow me to defend myself as well as tendered my exhibits. They interjected me when I intended to bring a salient point of my defense”
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“I also noticed that the court is not writing all what I said but only a few when I’m addressing court in my defense.”
The Cleric also alleged that so many times, he found out that the court has been tempering with record proceedings.
“Whenever I demanded court records I observed so many cancellations and alterations. This is the reason I need this case to be transferred to another judge,” he said.
On the side of Prosecution, Suraj Sa’eda, SAN, said he will not respond to the allegations made by the defendant the absence of his counsel.
“In the circumstances, we pray for an adjournment, and urged the court to order the defense counsel to appear before the court in the next adjourned date and address the court.
The Presiding Judge, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, reminded the defense counsel to know that he was invited by court to defend the cleric.
Yola urged the defendant to tell his counsel to appear before the court in the next adjourned date, and failure to attend, the court will provide another lawyer for the defendant.
He said what Usman was doing in the case was delay tactics and the court would not allow that to continue.
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“In the next adjourned date, if the defense counsel, Usman, fails to appear in court I will remove him from the defense counsel,” Yola said.
He adjourned the case to 28th July, 2022, for continuation of defense.
