The fate of Kano-based singer, Sharif Yahya Aminu, sentenced to death for blasphemy seems to have been sealed as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has expressed his readiness to sign the death warrant of the convicted singer.
Aminu was convicted of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad in a song which he circulated via Whatsapp by a Sharia Court. The home of the singer was ransacked and destroyed by rampaging youths while his father disowned him.
Despite a huge outcry from Nigerians against the death sentence passed on the singer, Governor Ganduje said he would append his signature to the execution papers immediately the time allocated for the right of appeal up till the stage of the Supreme Court elapses.
“But I assure you that immediately the Supreme Court affirms the judgment, I will sign it without any hesitation,” Ganduje said while speaking at a stakeholders meeting comprising of Ulamas, Lawyers, University Professors and other segments of the Kano society at the Government House on Thursday.
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Speaking further on the matter, the Governor said the State Government has been following up on the situation to make sure Justice is fully served.
“We have been following this matter from all angles and we will not leave any stone unturned until full justice is achieved. I will like to commend the Ullamas and the youths for their maturity in handling the matter if not it would have been a different story by now.”
“But for now, the man is having the grace of 30 days to appeal, if he does so, we will follow the matter to the Supreme Court, but if he doesn’t, immediately the days elapse, I will sign the death warrant and that is our position.”
The chairman of the association of Islamic Lawyers and Barristers for Kano State, Mohammed Sani Garba also urged Muslim lawyers to follow up the case till it gets to the Supreme Court in other to ensure that the death penalty stands.
The chairman the Kano Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Aminu Gadanya however reminded his Islamic colleagues that the accused had the right to appeal his Blasphemy conviction.