Few days after the conclusion of debate between Malam Abduljabar kabara and others ,the Kano state government has charged Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, a cleric famous for his controversial religious commentaries to court for blasphemy.
TheAnalystNG reports that Abduljabbar’s utterances are regarded as statements mortifying the companions and sacrilegious to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)
A statement issued by Kano state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba indicated that the development followed the receipt of the First Information Report, FIR from the police by the office of the Attorney General and commissioner for justice which prepared charges against the cleric.
Kabara was subsequently arraigned on Friday, before an Upper Sharia Court Judge, Kofar Kudu, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, where the charges that included blasphemy, incitement, and sundry offences were mentioned.
The statement added that after the court sitting, it adjourned the case to July 28, while the scholar would remain under police custody until Monday when he would be sent to prison till the adjourned date.
Mr Kabara had earlier appeared in a public debate organised by the Kano state government for him to defend his comments but refused to answer questions from his opponents, despite being the one who requested the public debate.
During the debate, the moderator, Salisu Shehu, a professor of educational psychology, ruled that Kabara “consistently strayed off the topic of discussion and avoided answering questions asked him.”
Mr Shehu ruled that the cleric’s earlier comments on Prophet Muhammad’s companions “were his personal opinion, not part of Islamic teaching” as he claimed.
On every topic raised, Kabara dodged questions and refused to open a book in his possession to clarify comments he made, citing short timing and not being fully prepared for the discussion, the judge said.
Two days after the public debate, Kabara on Sunday offered an apology.
”If my comments on the contending issue are offensive, I seek God forgiveness and the entire Muslims faithful,” he said.
Kabara said his comments were misinterpreted and that he was just trying to defend the sanctity of Prophet Muhammad.
He however, released a video on Facebook recently explaining why he could not respond to Kano clerics during the debate. And maintained his stand on controversial statements.
