The Court of Appeal sitting in Kano on Monday issued an order to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to produce Sheikh Abduljabar Kabara before the court to pursue his appeal.
The Islamic scholar is remanded in prison custody following a judgment by a lower court, Upper Shari’a Court, which sentenced him to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy.
When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the Presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Lawal-Shuaibu, ordered that in view that the appellant filed the appeal personally and not through a counsel, he should be produced and personally appear before the court to defend his argument.
The two other judges who sat along with Justice Lawal-Shuaibu are Justice Abubakar Muazu-Lamido and Justice Ahmad Ramat-Mohammed.
“In view that the appellant filed the appeal in person and not through counsel, he is to appear personally.
“Also, in view of the fact that the appellant is in custody, it is hereby ordered that the Correctional Service produce him on the next adjourned date, April 23, 2026, for the purpose of prosecuting his appeal.
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“The matter is adjourned to April 23, for hearing at the instance of the defence counsel,” he said.
Earlier, when the case was called, both parties were absent and had no representation.
It was at this juncture that a man who identified himself as Usman Malam-Hussaini stood up to inform the court that the Islamic scholar sent him with a letter to demand his transfer to Kano from Kuje prison in order to have unrestricted access to his records.
The Presiding judge, however, summoned the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude SAN to appear before the court and stand down the matter.
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Later, when the matter was called, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecution in the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Bar. Zahradeen Kofar-Mata told the court that the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice was indisposed and he put a call to him, directing him to tender his apology to the court for his inability to appear in person before the court.
Kofar-Mata said the matter was assigned to a private lawyer and faulted a mix-up at the registry for hiccups.
The Presiding judge, however, chastised the Attorney General over what he described as disrespect to the court for not appearing before the court and later adjourned the matter. (NAN)
