ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Entertainment

Kano atheist sentenced to 24 years imprisonment for blasphemy

ADVERTISEMENT

Kano-born atheist, Mubarak Bala, has been sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by Justice Farouk Lawan of Kano High Court for blasphemy.

Bala, who is the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was arrested at his home in Kaduna on April 28, 2020 and taken to Kano, where complaints of blasphemy and incitement were lodged against him.

There has been a campaign for his release or trial, with activists saying he was out of touch with his wife and lawyer.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, when he appeared before Justice Farouk Lawan of Kano High Court 4, Audu Bako Secretariat on Tuesday, April 5, Bala pleaded guilty to all the charges.

When the judge asked him whether he knows the consequences of his guilty plea, Mr Bala insisted on not changing his initial plea.

Mr Bala’s lawyer, James Ibor, had earlier tried to persuade his client to change his plea, but he insisted that he was guilty of charges.

The lawyer however cited frustration and fear as reasons for his client’s guilty plea, saying his client had been in prison for two years.

But Mr Bala, who appeared unruffled, raised his hand and told the court that he was guilty as charged.

In his plea of leniency, Mr Bala however, said the intent of his social media posts was not to cause violence. He, therefore, promised not to repeat the blasphemous posts in the future.

Passing the sentence, Justice Lawan sentenced him to 24 years imprisonment.

Spread the love
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button