Appeal Court in Kano State has ordered a retrial of the death sentence handed to 24-year-old singer Yahya Sharif-Aminu, over alleged blasphemy.
A Shari’a Court in Kano had on August 10, 2020, handed down a death sentence to Sharif-Adamu after pronouncing him guilty of committing blasphemy in a song.
Nigerians had kicked against the judgment. Amid their condemnation of the ruling, the Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria ordered the Kano State government to execute the court judgment.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State had said he was ready to sign the death sentence if the convict failed to file an appeal within 30 days.
Not pleased with the judgment, Sharif-Aminu, challenged it before the Appeal Court.
In the Court of Appeal session on Wednesday via Zoom, the court dismissed the death sentence. It, however, denied the musician bail and ordered his re-trial before another Shari’a court judge.
The appeal panel comprised three judges. Two of the judges supported the respondents while one objected.