A State High Court in Kano has reserved judgement in an appeal filed by singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu over a death sentence handed to him by an Upper Shari’a Court for blasphemy.
The court also reserved judgment for bail application and appeal by 13-year-old Omar Faruk who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for complicity in the offense committed by the singer.
Sharif-Aminu’s cousel Kola Alapinni told the court that the notice of appeal filed on November 5 and briefs of argument filed on October 14 were pursuant to Sections 36 and 38 of the Constitution.
Mr Alapinni urged the court to set aside the entire proceedings of the trial court, stating that the Sharia Islamic Penal Code was unconstitutional in a secular and multi-religious country like Nigeria.
Counsel for the respondents Aisha Mahmud, however, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
The panel made up of the Chief Judge of Kano Justice Nura Sagir and Justice Nasiru Saminu reserved judgment for a date to be communicated to the parties.
Sharif-Aminu was on August 10 sentenced to death by hanging after his conviction for blasphemy under Section 382 (b) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law 2000.
