April 6, 2022

A Kano State High Court on Tuesday sentenced a Kano-born atheist, Mubarak Bala, to 24 years imprisonment for blasphemy.

But his plight has drawn the ire of many Nigerians who expressed shock and outrage over the verdict, saying it contradicts the plaintiff’s right to freedom of expression.

Some wondered why a heavy sentence of 24 years could be handed to him while those who stole billions of naira of public funds are given light sentences, or in some cases discharged and acquitted.

The convict, whose age and address were not provided by the court, was earlier arraigned on an 18-count charge bordering on blasphemy, incitement, contempt of religion and breach of public peace.

The convict had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Delivering judgment, Justice Farouk Lawan, sentenced the convict to 24 years imprisonment.

The judge also ordered that the sentence term would commence from the day that the convict was arrested.

He also ordered that the sentences for all the 18 charges for which Bala was convicted should run concurrently.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Muhammad Sani, told the court that the convict had on April 28, 2020, made a blasphemous post on his Facebook page.

Sanusi said the post was against Allah (SWA) and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and had caused a major outrage in the city of Kano, where the convict hails from.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provision of Sections 114 and 210 of the Penal Code.

The Defence Counsel, Mr James Ibor, pleaded for leniency on behalf of his client, who concurred and promised not to repeat the blasphemous comments. (NAN)