Abduljabbar Sheikh Nasir Kabara, a detained Islamic cleric, has accused the judiciary and government of political persecution, judicial misconduct, and deliberate obstruction of his appeals. In a detailed “Letter of Further Complaint” to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kabara claimed that his trial was flawed and his appeals blocked.
Kabara was sentenced to death by hanging in December 2022 by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano for allegedly making blasphemous statements against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He maintains that the statements cited were scholarly in nature and that he was denied a fair hearing.
“I was denied a fair hearing, and my appeals have been deliberately blocked,” Kabara said in his petition. He alleged that the Kano State Government and judicial authorities conspired to suppress his appeals, mismanage filing dates, assign his case to panels lacking jurisdiction, and manipulate charges.
Kabara also claimed collusion between state-appointed lawyers and government officials aimed at undermining his defense. He alleged a political and international conspiracy involving former Education Minister Adamu Adamu, who allegedly attempted to manipulate him during trips abroad and in Nigeria, including coercive financial offers.
Kabara asserted that he resisted these efforts, leading to armed security forces raiding his home and mosque. He highlighted interference in his institutional properties, third-party legal claims, and neglect by prison and government authorities in addressing his appeals.
He urged the CJN to intervene, citing nearly 5,000 pages of trial records he believes expose systemic injustice. “A transparent judicial process would vindicate me,” Kabara said.
