• About Us
    • Àtẹ́lẹwọ́ Podcast
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
Freelanews
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Crime
  • Business
  • Brands
  • Banking
  • Opinion
  • Interview
  • Entertainment
  • Podcast
    • Àtẹ́lẹwọ́
  • Sports
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Crime
  • Business
  • Brands
  • Banking
  • Opinion
  • Interview
  • Entertainment
  • Podcast
    • Àtẹ́lẹwọ́
  • Sports
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Freelanews
No Result
View All Result
Home News Crime

‘No Muslim will condone it!’ How WhatsApp argument led to death sentence

Freelanews by Freelanews
September 29, 2020
in Crime
0
200929095002 200915135333 20200915 northernnigeria whatsapp blasphemy super 169

An intense argument recorded and posted in a WhatsApp group has led to a death penalty sentence and a family torn apart over allegations of insulting Prophet Mohammed, according to lawyers for the defendant.

Music studio assistant Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging on August 10 after being convicted of blasphemy by an Islamic court in northern Nigeria.

The judgment document states that Sharif-Aminu, 22, was convicted for making “a blasphemous statement against Prophet Mohammed in a WhatsApp Group,” which is contrary to the Kano State Sharia Penal Code and is an offence which carries the death sentence.

The recording was shared widely, causing mass outrage in the highly conservative, majority Muslim, state, according to various reports.

“Whoever insults, defames or utters words or acts which are capable of bringing into disrespect … such a person has committed a serious crime which is punishable by death,” according to a translation of court documents provided to CNN by his lawyers.

Sharif-Aminu, described by his friend Kabiru Ibrahim, as “kind, religious and dutiful,” admitted charges of blasphemy during his trial, but said he had made a mistake.

Under Sharia law, a voluntary confession is binding, according to court papers.

Sharif-Aminu’s lawyers, who became involved in the case only after his conviction, say he was not allowed legal representation before or during his trial — in contravention of Nigerian citizens’ constitutional right to legal representation.

According to the lawyers, the Sharia court adjourned his case four times because no lawyer came forth from the Legal Aid Council to represent him, likely because of the sensitivity of the case. The Sharia court is, however, statute-bound to provide legal representation.

Advocates from the Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF), a not-for-profit aimed at protecting religious freedom in Nigeria, which is representing Sharif-Aminu, told CNN he has also not been permitted access to legal advice to prepare an appeal against his conviction.

The FRF says it has lodged an appeal on his behalf in Kano’s high court, a common-law court with constitutional powers.

“The state laws he is accused of breaking are in gross conflict with the Nigerian constitution,” said his counsel, Kola Alapinni.

Kano’s State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje told clerics in Kano that he would sign Sharif-Aminu’s death warrant as soon as the singer had exhausted the appeals process, local media reports say.

“I assure you that immediately the Supreme Court affirms the judgment, I will sign it without any hesitation,” Ganduje said, according to Nigeria’s Daily Post newspaper. CNN contacted a spokesman for Governor Ganduje several times for comment but did not receive a response.

Islamic scholar and cleric Bashir Aliyu Umar, who is not connected to the case, but said he had read the transcript of the court proceedings, told CNN, “No Muslim will condone it. People hold Prophet Mohammed higher than their parents, and when things like this happen, it will lead to a breakdown of peace because of mob action and attacks against the accused.”

When news of Sharif-Aminu’s alleged crime broke earlier this year, protesters marched to his family home and destroyed it, prompting his father to flee to a neighboring town, his lawyers told CNN. Sharif-Aminu went into hiding, according to Amnesty and his lawyers, but in March he was arrested by the Hisbah Corps, the religious police force that enforces Sharia law in Kano state.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has described Sharif-Aminu’s trial as a “travesty of justice,” and called on Kano state authorities to quash his conviction and death sentence.

“There are serious concerns about the fairness of his trial and the framing of the charges against him based on his Whatsapp messages,” said Amnesty’s Nigeria director Osai Ojigho. “Furthermore, the imposition of the death penalty following an unfair trial violates the right to life,” she added.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also condemned Sharif-Aminu’s death sentence. It said Nigeria’s blasphemy laws were inconsistent with universal human rights standards.

“It is unconscionable that Sharif-Aminu is facing a death sentence merely for expressing his beliefs artistically through music,” said the organization’s commissioner, Frederick A. Davie, in a statement.

The organization released a follow-up statement saying it had adopted Aminu-Sharif as “a religious prisoner of conscience.”

In the eyes of many Nigerians, the adoption of Sharia law is a violation of the country’s constitution, because Article 10 guarantees religious freedom when it states that “the Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.”

“This issue of blasphemy is incompatible with the Nigerian constitution,” Leo Igwe, chair of the board of trustees for the Humanist Association of Nigeria, told CNN.

“We hope this case will help Nigeria confront the biggest constitutional challenge since independence. What should take precedence, Sharia law, or the Nigerian constitution?”

Governors of the northern states, where Sharia law is practiced, argue that it applies only to Muslims, and not to citizens of other faiths. The FRF says it is working on six other constitutional cases which will challenge what it sees as government interference in Nigerian citizens’ right to religious freedom.

One of these, on behalf of the Atheist Society of Nigeria (ASN), is against the state government of Akwa Ibom, in the country’s southeast, for its involvement in the construction of an 8,500-seat worship center at its High Court.

The ASN says millions of dollars in state funding have been spent on the center, which it says amounts to government interference in freedom of religion.

“The government has no business legislating on religions. End of story,” Ebenezer Odubule, a founding member of the FRF told CNN.
The FRF says it has had to put some of its other cases on hold, to focus on Sharif-Aminu’s case. It is also hampered by a lack of funding to fight new cases.

Source: CNN

freelanews
Freelanews

Freelanews is a potpourri of news, entertainment, business, events and photos. This is no fake news.

Related Posts

Court
Crime

Man who shared revenge porn of ex online ordered to pay her $1.2 billion

by Freelanews
August 16, 2023
sterling bank logo
Crime

Ex-bank official, Owoeye, in court for stealing Sterling Bank’s N2m (Photo)

by Quadri Olaitan
July 18, 2023
breaking news
Crime

Breaking News: Lagos police successfully retrieve baby sold by housemaid

by Rtn. Victor Ojelabi
February 5, 2024
11750452 cc8bbaeepolice jpegf1e743debfa6634263d2d1c9449ed83e
Crime

‘I’ll shoot you’ Police officer extorts Poly student, collects bribe through proxy’s UBA account

by Freelanews
March 4, 2022
COURTS Elphicke 09110679
Crime

‘Habitual?’ Fmr UK lawmaker jailed over sexual assaults

by Freelanews
September 15, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

Expert businessman giving interview at a conference, surrounded by journalists with microphones, showcasing leadership and communication skills in the professional event.

Adebayo Adelabu unveils N700bn metering plan

October 28, 2025
Kwara Cancer

Kwara cancer screening boosts early detection drive

October 28, 2025
Nestoil

Nestoil placed under receivership over $1bn debt

October 28, 2025
Omoge Saida

Omoge Saida sparks Nigerian social media over leaked video

October 28, 2025

Search

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Political persecution in Ogun State

Political persecution in Ogun State: Abiodun moves against Otunba Gbenga Daniel with demolition threats again

August 9, 2025
APC Second-Term Governors

APC: Second-term governors seeking immediate elective post to lose party leadership

October 15, 2025
April Wind Couture

April Wind Couture thrives in Nigeria’s tough economy with bold Ankara vision

September 12, 2025
Omoge Saida

Omoge Saida sparks Nigerian social media over leaked video

October 28, 2025
amoke

‘Meals by Amoke’ We serve traditional dishes in a modern way, Bukoye Fasola reveals

19
Image 2024 03 26 at 120645 AM jpeg

Charles Inojie, Ali Nuhu call on communities to #MakeWeHalla against domestic violence

11
Meran Primary Health Centre Lagos father Meran hospital

Lagos father shares heartbreaking experience at Meran Primary Health Centre (Photos)

4
fls2

‘Disarticulated system’ Gov’t confused about Nigerian education, expert laments

3
Expert businessman giving interview at a conference, surrounded by journalists with microphones, showcasing leadership and communication skills in the professional event.

Adebayo Adelabu unveils N700bn metering plan

October 28, 2025
Kwara Cancer

Kwara cancer screening boosts early detection drive

October 28, 2025
Nestoil

Nestoil placed under receivership over $1bn debt

October 28, 2025
Omoge Saida

Omoge Saida sparks Nigerian social media over leaked video

October 28, 2025
October 2025
SMTWTFS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Sep    
Freelanews

Freelanews is a Nigerian digital news platform that delivers timely, credible, and engaging stories across politics, business, entertainment, lifestyle, and the creative industry, with a strong focus on promoting innovation, integrity, and inclusivity in storytelling.

Hot!

Expert businessman giving interview at a conference, surrounded by journalists with microphones, showcasing leadership and communication skills in the professional event.

Adebayo Adelabu unveils N700bn metering plan

October 28, 2025
Kwara Cancer

Kwara cancer screening boosts early detection drive

October 28, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertisement
  • Sitemap

© 2025 Freelanews | by Iretura.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Crime
  • Business
  • Brands
  • Banking
  • Opinion
  • Interview
  • Entertainment
  • Podcast
    • Àtẹ́lẹwọ́
  • Sports
  • Events

© 2025 Freelanews | by Iretura.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.