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 case be transferred to another judge, alleging that he will not get justice in as much as Ibrahim Sarki Yola presides over his case.
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The defendant is standing trial over the alleged Blasphemy against the Personality of the Holy Prophet Muhammmad, (Peace be Upon Him).
In the last court session, the defense counsel, Barrister Dalhatu Shehu Usman staged a walk out over the court stance of preventing him from making objections to the style of cross examination being conducted by the prosecution counsel.
In a chat with Journalists outside the court room, Barrister Dalhatu alleged that the presiding judge has been teleguided by Kano State Government.
When the case resumed Thursday for continuation, the Defense Counsel Barrister Dalhatu was conspicuously absent.
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The Cleric told the court that his lawyer was not in court sequel to his petition to the Grand Khadi of the State.
When the presiding judge demanded to know the reasons why he needed his case to be transferred to another judge.
He said “I want the case be transferred to another judge which has no any relationship to both parties in the case.”
Abduljabbar similarly told the court that in his defense, he earlier stated that his preachings were based on meaning after conducting a good reaserch.
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“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”
“I also noticed that the court is not writing all what i said but only few when I’m addressing court in my defense.”
The Cleric alleged that so many times, he found out that the court has been tempering with record proceedings.
“Whenever I demanded for court records i observed so many cancellations and alterations”
“This is the reasons i need this case to be transferred to another judge”
On the side of Prosecution, Suraj Sa’eda, SAN, said he will not respond to the allegations made by the defendant without the presence 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.
Sarki 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 Dalhatu is doing in the case is delay tactics and court will not allow that.
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“In the next adjourned date if the defense counsel Shehu Usman did not appear in court i will remove him from the defense counsel,” Sarki Yola said.
He adjourned the case to July 28, for continuation of defense.
