Kano cleric sentenced to death seeks relocation from Kuje prison

Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara, the Kano cleric sentenced for blasphemy, has filed a fresh complaint, seeking relocation from Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja back to Kurmawa Correctional Centre in Kano. In a petition filed before the Court of Appeal, Kano Division and dated April 3, 2026, Kabara argued that his transfer to Abuja […]

Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara, the Kano cleric sentenced for blasphemy, has filed a fresh complaint, seeking relocation from Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja back to Kurmawa Correctional Centre in Kano.

In a petition filed before the Court of Appeal, Kano Division and dated April 3, 2026, Kabara argued that his transfer to Abuja had denied him access to vital case documents needed for his appeal.

He said the files, which contain over 5,000 pages of proceedings and briefs of argument, were left behind at Kurmawa Prison, when he was moved on October 14, 2025.

“It is essential that I first confirm that my documents at Kurmawa Prison are complete and original before the issuance of another hearing notice,” Kabara stated in the complaint.

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The cleric is asking the court to grant three reliefs: an order returning him to Kurmawa Prison to verify his documents, restoration of any missing or substituted records and suspension of hearing notice until his files are confirmed intact.

Kabara, who insisted on representing himself in the appeal, cited Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution to back his request.

He also lamented that despite repeated visits by his supporters to the court, no production warrant had been issued to enable his attendance at the adoption of his appeal.

The Court of Appeal is yet to fix a date for hearing the application.

Daily Trust reports that cleric has been in detention since July 16, 2021 when he was first arraigned before Upper Sharia Court sitting in Kofar Kudu, Kano for four charges of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The court, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Sarki-Yola, had on December 15, 2022 sentenced him to death by hanging after finding him guilty of all the four charges filed against him by the Kano state government.