A group known as the Nigerian Music Industry Collective has appealed to Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje not to sign the death warrant against singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.
The group is made up of legendary singer Ebenezer Obey; president of Chocolate City record label Audu Maikori; music executive and manager of 2Baba Idibia, Efe Omorogbe; Obi Asika and Dare Fasasi among others.
In a letter dated September 8 and written by Laolu Akins on behalf of the group, the music industry players appealed to the governor to use his “good office to influence the implementation of the rule of law, which has obviously been disregarded in this case”.
Omorogbe posted the appeal letter on his Instagram feed on Wednesday.
The letter read: “Your Excellency sir, we have been informed that Yahaya has been scheduled to be executed in less than a week’s time, and we will like to appeal to you to use your good office to influence the implementation of the rule of law, which has obviously been disregarded in this case.
“Yahaya Sharif-Aminu is protected under the law which gives him freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and protecting freedom of expression. We, as leaders of the Nigerian music and entertainment industry, are absolutely against this attempt to gag free thinking and expression and ask that justice is served by the overruling of this sentence and the dropping of all charges against him. We ask that you use your good offices to stop this act and release him from this unfair act.”
Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by a Kano Upper Sharia Court for blaspheming Prophet Muhammad in a song circulated via WhatsApp.
He has appealed the judgement at the State High Court, saying Sharia Law is unconstitutional.
