A 13-year-old boy, Omar Farouq, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for blasphemy by the Upper Sharia Court of Kano has on Monday 7th September, 2020 filed an appeal at the State High Court to challenge his conviction.

Farouq, through his counsel, Kola Alapinni, is asking the court to set aside the whole of the judgement of the Upper Sharia Court of Kano.

Omar Farouq was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with menial labour for blasphemy by the same Sharia Court and the same date in Filin Hockey, Kano, Nigeria that sentenced Yahaya Sharif-Aminu to death for blasphemy

But in the appeal, Alapinni contended on a sole ground of appeal that the appellant’s trial, conviction and sentencing by the Upper Sharia Court, pursuant to Kano State Penal Code Law 2000 were unconstitutional, null and void, having grossly violated and conflicted with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right and Universal Declaration of Human Rights respectively.

He contended that Penal Sharia Code law is only applicable and permissible in Islamic theocracies or countries whose constitution allows for such laws, whereas Nigeria is a secular state with constitutional democracy and the constitution being the supreme law.

He added that the offense of blasphemy for which Farouq was convicted is no longer a cognizable offense in Nigeria by virtue of section 10, standing alone or in conjunction with section 38 and 39 of the constitution respectively.

In addition, he contended that the State was quick to charge the accused for blasphemy but neglected and refused to provide him legal representation even though there is an existing framework for legal aid in Kano State.

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Cross River State has condemned the vacuum in the office of the State Chief Judge.

It said it is unconstitutional to have a State High Court without a Chief Judge.

The Association noted that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has remained silent over the situation seven days after the tenure of the acting Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Eneji, expired.

Justice Eneji’s tenure expired on September 2 and he cannot be reappointed having served two conservative tenures of three months each.

Chairman of the Calabar NBA, Paul Ebiala said the absence of a Chief Judge portends danger for the state.

According to him, the absence of a Chief Judge is like shutting down the judiciary completely.

The police in Ekiti State on Wednesday arraigned six men before an Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court over their membership of an unlawful society.

The police prosecutor, Olubu Apata, said the six men – Raimi Mustapha (22), Olamilekan Sodiq (21), Rasaq Taofeek (21), Boje Oluwasola (21), Usman Hakeem (30), and Adewale Obateru (20) – are facing one count cultism each.

Apata told the court that the six defendants allegedly proclaimed to be members of an unlawful society, adding that they committed the offense on August 30, 2020, about 7 am in Ado-Ekiti.

The offense contravened Section 64 (a) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, he added.

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

An Upper Area Court sitting in Kasuwan Nama in Jos on Thursday sentenced a 25-year-old trader, Abba Arando, to two years’ imprisonment for stealing carrots worth N65,000.

The Judge, Lawal Suleiman, sentenced Armando after he pleaded guilty to trespass, mischief, and theft.

Suleiman, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N20,000.

The judge advised the convict to change his ways and not to engage in crimes.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Gokwat told the court that the case was reported at the Laranto Police Station, Jos on September 5 by the complainant, Ahamad Mohammed.

Gokwat said that the convict confessed that he trespassed and harvested carrots worth N65,000 from the complainant’s farm without his consent.

The offense, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 327, 312 and 271 of the Penal Code law.

A Grade I Area Court, Mpape, Abuja, on Wednesday admitted a motorcyclist, Ali Hassan, to bail in the sum of N200,000 over alleged N355,000 fraud.

The police charged Hassan, 27, who resides in Mpape, Abuja with three counts of breach of trust, cheating and theft.

The Judge, Salihu Ibrahim, also ordered Hassan to produce one surety, who must be a civil servant.

He adjourned the case until Sept. 17 for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, M.M Augustine told the court that the defendant was entrusted with a Honda motorcycle valued at N220,000 which he agreed with the owner to pay N355,000 by hire purchase.

The prosecutor said that the defendant collected the motorcycle and absconded with it in June.

The matter, he said, was reported at Mpape Police station by the complainant, Ms Mercy Yusuf of the same address.

The offense, Augustine said, contravened the provisions of sections 312, 322 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.