There was a mild drama at the Upper Shari’a Court in Kano, on Thursday, when controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara, expressed dissatisfaction with the way his new lawyers were defending him.
The embattled cleric told the court he was not happy with the way his lawyer was cross-examining the first prosecution witness, asking the court if he could be allowed to do the cross-examination.
The judge, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, however, turned down his request and appealed to the lawyer, Umar Mohammed, who was visibly displeased with the conduct of his client.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Professor Mamman Lawan Yusufari (SAN), presented the first prosecution witness, one Adamu Adamu, a tailor and resident of Gwale filin D.O., who said he was one of the students of Abduljabbar.
The witness told the court that he heard Abduljabbar at different times saying bad things about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
According to the witness, on August 10, 2019, he was in Asshabulkhahfi mosque at Gwale Filin Mushe where Abduljabbar used to teach his students and heard the cleric made a blasphemous speech regarding the marriage between the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his wife, Nana Safiyya.
The witness also testified to the court that on December 20, 2019, he heard Abdulljabbar talking badly about the Prophet (PBUH) when he narrated a popular Hadith of Anas Bin Malik (Hadithil Hajjah) on how one woman came to the Prophet and demanded the Prophet to satisfy her sexual desire.
During cross-examination, the defense counsel led by Barrister Umar Muhammad, asked the witness whether he had read the reference given by the Abduljabbar of the two Hadiths, the witness answered that he had read them and did not find any place where such blasphemous speeches were mentioned in either Bukhari or Muslims books.
He also asked the witness about the sect he belongs to but the witness refused to answer the question.
The witness was also asked if he was against the personality of the cleric and he answered that he has no grudge against Abduljabbar, adding that “If I am against him, I wouldn’t be attending his lessons”.
After the first witness, the prosecution counsel told the court that the prosecution has another witness who was in the court but would be presented at the next sitting.
The presiding judge, Ibrahim Sarki, Yola thereafter adjourned the case to October 28, 2021, for continuation of hearing.
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