The Kano State Government says Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is ready to sign the death warrant that convicted Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Kano State, Lawan Musa, made this known in a chat with newsmen on Thursday.
Recall that Abduljabbar was sentenced to death by hanging after an Upper Sharia Court found him guilty of the charge of blasphemy levelled against him by the state government.
According to Musa, the governor remains committed to ensuring that there is no breakdown of law and order, adding that the judgment of the court was a vindication of the case brought by the state government against the cleric, which shows no one is above the law.
“Nobody will be allowed to break the law without the necessary actions being taken.
“We took him (Abduljabbar) to court and gave him all the necessary things to defend himself and today, we thank God, the court has seen that we do have a case against him and has convicted him accordingly.
“Just as it (position of the governor) has not changed in the case of Hanifa, it has equally not changed on this.
“You know there are a lot of procedures to follow and His Excellency is ever ready; once that warrant is brought before him, he is going to sign it,” he added.
Meanwhile a mild drama ensued in court when Abduljabbar stood up, saying he did not know the counsel for the defendant, Aminu Abubakar, who prayed the court to accord him leniency.
“I don’t know him. This is the first time I am seeing him. He should not be allowed to speak on my behalf. I can and should be allowed to speak for myself.
“My Lord, I heard how you twisted all my evidence, turned around all my submissions upside down, and assigned words to me that I never uttered.
“Deliver your judgement, and I am not asking for leniency at all. I want all my followers to know that I will die a hero and I don’t want you (the judge) Ibrahim Sarki Yola to do me any favour or grant me leniency. This is my last words. Assalamu Alaikum.”
