The Supreme Court has begun hearing the appeal of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Kano-based singer sentenced to death by hanging over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed.
Sharif-Aminu’s case began on March 4, 2020, when he shared a song via WhatsApp. The lyrics were deemed blasphemous against Prophet Muhammad, leading to public outcry.
Protesters later burned down his family home in Kano and demanded his arrest. He was subsequently detained by the Hisbah, Kano’s Islamic police.
On August 10, 2020, an upper Sharia court in the Hausawa Filin Hockey area of Kano convicted him and sentenced him to death by hanging.
Sharif-Aminu did not contest the charges during the trial. The presiding judge, Aliyu Muhammad Kani, informed him of his right to appeal.
The ruling sparked backlash on social media, with various groups raising concerns over freedom of expression and the fairness of the trial.
Challenging the verdict, Sharif-Aminu approached the Kano State High Court.
Read also: SHOCKING: Singer sentenced to death for blasphemy in Kano
On January 21, 2021, the high court set aside the conviction, noting that he was denied legal representation during the Sharia court proceedings. However, it ordered a fresh trial before a different Sharia court.
Unhappy with the retrial order, Sharif-Aminu appealed to the Court of Appeal in Kano, arguing that once the initial conviction was nullified, he should have been discharged.
In a majority decision, the appellate court upheld the retrial, stating it was lawful and in the interest of justice. It also ruled that the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000 was not unconstitutional.
A minority opinion disagreed, stating that once the original trial was invalidated, Sharif-Aminu should have been released without further prosecution.
He has now taken the matter to the Supreme Court, challenging the appellate court’s decision to permit a retrial.
