Kano Shari'a Court

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has suspended two court registrars and issued formal warnings to two Upper Sharia Court judges for various acts of misconduct.

This was announced in a statement by the spokesperson of the Kano State Judiciary, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, on Sunday, April 27, 2025, according to SolaceBase.

The statement said the disciplinary measures were approved during the Commission’s 80th meeting held on April 22, 2025, based on the recommendations of the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee.

Principal Registrar II of the High Court of Justice, Ibrahim Adamu, was suspended without pay for six months and had his promotion delayed after being found guilty of verbally assaulting and attempting to physically attack his superior — actions that violated the Kano State Civil Service Rules 2004 and Judicial Service Commission Regulations. 

The statement noted that this was his second appearance before an investigative panel for violence-related misconduct.

In a related case, Maigida Lawan, a Principal Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal, was found guilty of demanding and receiving improper gratification under false pretences. 

Consequently, he was demoted from GL-13 to GL-12 and suspended without pay for six months.

Meanwhile, Upper Sharia Court Judge Alkali Mansur Ibrahim was issued a formal warning after evidence showed he used abusive language toward a litigant. 

Similarly, Upper Sharia Court Judge Alkali Nasiru Ahmad received a caution for ordering the detention of a judgment debtor in circumstances that suggested a conflict of interest and compromised judicial impartiality.

The Commission reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and misconduct, warning that any court staff found guilty of such practices would face compulsory retirement. 

It stressed that judicial officers must uphold fairness, integrity, and respect for all court users to maintain public trust in the judiciary.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The European Parliament has passed a resolution condemning the continued detention and possible execution of Nigerian singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu on blasphemy charges. The resolution, adopted on Thursday, urges the Nigerian government to immediately release Sharif-Aminu and abolish blasphemy laws that violate human rights.

Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano State on August 10, 2020, for allegedly composing a song with lyrics deemed derogatory to the Prophet Muhammad. His trial was conducted without legal representation, and his family has reportedly faced harassment and persecution since his arrest. 

Although the Kano State High Court ordered a retrial in January 2021 and later upheld by the Court of Appeal in August 2022, the constitutionality of Sharia-based blasphemy laws was affirmed, raising fears that the death sentence might still be enforced. His appeal to the Supreme Court, filed in November 2022, remains pending.

The European Parliament highlighted that Sharif-Aminu’s health is deteriorating due to inadequate access to food, clothing, and medical care while in detention. The resolution calls for his unconditional release, guarantees for his safety, and an expedited and fair appeals process at the Supreme Court.

The Parliament further criticised Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, stating that they contravene international human rights commitments, the African Charter, and Nigeria’s own constitution, which upholds freedom of expression and religion. It also highlighted that blasphemy accusations frequently lead to mob violence and extrajudicial killings, putting religious minorities at risk.

In addition to demanding Sharif-Aminu’s release, the European Parliament urged the Nigerian government to abolish blasphemy laws, impose a nationwide moratorium on executions, and take concrete steps to prevent impunity for those inciting or perpetrating violence over alleged blasphemy cases. It also called on the European Union and its member states to raise human rights concerns with Nigerian authorities and observe future legal proceedings related to blasphemy cases.

The resolution commended the recent acquittal of Rhoda Jatau and the release of Mubarak Bala, both previously detained on blasphemy-related charges. It reaffirmed that blasphemy laws should be abolished to protect fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.

The European Parliament’s President has been instructed to forward the resolution to the European Commission, the European Council, the European External Action Service, and the Nigerian government and parliament for immediate action.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, who is on trial for alleged blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), claims that his attorney, Dalhatu Shehu Usman, received N2 million as bribe to influence the Upper Shari’a court judge presiding over the case.

During the resumption of the meeting, the defense counsel, Dalhatu Shehu Usman, who was represented by Mr. Muhammad Lawan, pleaded with the court to permit the defendant to adopt his final written remarks on his own behalf.

In adopting his last written arguments, dated and submitted on September 20, the defendant asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the Kano State Government against him and direct the state to issue an apology to him.

“I urge the court to adopt the written addresses as my argument in this case and evidence, my audio preachings.”

Kabara continued to claim that the attorney chosen by the court to represent him had amassed N2 million to bribe the judge, stating the attorney had come to the prison and informed him that the judge had instructed him to do so in order to release and exonerate the defendant.

“My lawyer told me he gave the judge N1.3 million, another person N200,000 and he himself took N500,000.”

In his final written arguments, Mamman Lawan-Yusufari SAN, the prosecution’s attorney, pleaded with the court to find the defendant guilty in accordance with the law and accept their arguments as evidence against him in a document dated and filed on September 22.

The defense presented one witness and offered 24 books and a memory card as proof, while the prosecution rested its case on the testimony of four witnesses.

Malam Ibrahim Sarki-Yola, the preeminent judge, refuted the claim that he accepted a bribe.

He stated that both parties would later be informed of the judgment date.

After the court session, Shehu Usman spoke to reporters and refuted the claim that he had accepted the sum of N2 million as a bribe.

Shehu added, “I am not surprised, my client had also made some allegations against his other three sets of lawyers before.”