Blasphemy: Kano singer appeals death sentence

Kano-based singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu has filed an appeal against the death sentence handed to him by a Shari’a Court for blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

Mr Sharif-Aminu, 22, was sentenced to death by hanging on August 10 after he was found guilty of committing blasphemy in a song circulated via WhatsApp.

His lawyer Kola Alanipini in a suit filed on Thursday at the State High Court asked the court to set the judgement aside.

Kano State judiciary had confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that rights lawyer Femi Falana had been given the certified true copies of the judgement on Wednesday to enable the singer file an appeal.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had earlier in the day raised alarm that Sharif-Aminu was denied access to lawyers.

Meanwhile, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had said he would not waste time to sign the death sentence if the singer failed to file an appeal within 30 days.

The period for appeal would elapse on September 9.