Headlines
Blasphemy: Yahya Aminu Sharif yet to get lawyer
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Two weeks after a Kano Shari’a court sentenced a singer Yahya Aminu Sharif to die by hanging for blaspheming Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the convict is yet to get a lawyer.
Kano state High Court spokesperson, Baba Jibo Ibrahim told Kano Focus that since the verdict no lawyer has shown interest in the case.
He however said some human rights organizations came to the court asking about the case, but are yet to offer their support.
Mr Ibrahim said the convict has up to September 09, 2020 to appeal the judgment.
Blasphemy: Kano council of Imams, Hisbah endorse Shari’ah court verdict
Death penalty: Kano convicted persons may not be executed
Kano Focus recalls that Mr Sharif, 22, was found guilty of blaspheming against the Prophet in a voice message he posted in a WhatsApp group in March 2020
Ganduje under pressure to sign death warrant
Meanwhile, the council of Imams in Kano, and various people in the state have urged the state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to sign the execution warrant of the convict to serve as a deterrent.
Chairman of the council, Muhammad Nasir Adam, said the government should be courageous enough to adhere to the court judgment regardless of political sentiments.
Mr Adam applauded the quickness of the court in arriving at the judgment.
The Islamic scholar said Islam is a religion of peace but has means of punishing transgressors.
Kano Muslim lawyers back the sentence
Also, the Muslim Lawyers’ Association (MULAN), Kano branch says there was nothing wrong with the death penalty passed on Sharif.
Chariman of the association, Muhammad Sani Garba said the act for which Sharif was convicted is recognized by the Kano State Sharia Penal Code and provided in section 382(B).
“The judge was right because the Supreme Court had decided in the case of Abubakar Shalla Vs State (2007) 12 MJSC at page 52-53 paragraph G-B that the position of the Law under Shariah is that any sane and adult Muslim, who insults, defames, or utter words or acts which are capable of bringing into disrepute, odium, contempt of the holy prophet such a person has committed a serious crime which is punishable by death.” Mr Garba stated.
He therefore urged Kano state government to comply with the conviction.
Human Rights Organizations challenge conviction
However, Amnesty International, and other Human Rights organizations have condemned the death sentence handed down to a Mr Sharif.
Amnesty also called on the state governor Abdullahi Ganduje to immediately quash the conviction.
“The authorities of Kano State of Nigeria must immediately quash the conviction and death sentence of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death by hanging on spurious charges of blasphemy by the Kano Upper Shari’a Court.”
The group described the conviction as a travesty of justice, adding that the musician did not get a fair hearing.
“Furthermore, the imposition of the death penalty following an unfair trial violates the right to life.
“Yahaya Sharif-Aminu must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Osai Ojigho, Amnesty International Nigeria Country Director.
Yamadawa community foils armed robbery attack, kill suspect
Nasir Yusuf
Yamadawa community in Kano metropolis have foiled armed robbery attack in the late hours Thursday which led to the arrest of two suspects.
KANO FOCUS eye witness in the area told journalists that on Thursday around 11 pm two armed robbery suspects have attacked a resident in front of his house at Yamadawa Quarters, Gwale local government area, Kano State and attempted to snatch his Toyota Corolla Motor Vehicle.
He said upon alighting from the car, the victim used car door and knocked down one of the armed robbery suspects and took to his heels shouting at the top of his voice, which attracted the attention of members of the community.
According to the eyewitness on realizing their plan had failed, the armed robbers started shooting sprodically and snatched tricycle in an attempt to escape.
He added that the residents overpowered them and beat them handed them over to the police.
The police spokesperson in Kano Abdullahi Kiyawa confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday evening.
Mr Kiyawa revealed around 11 pm on Wednesday, police received a distress call on armed robbery at Yamadawa quarters.
He said on the receipt of the report, teams of policemen mobilized to the area where they arrested the suspects with the help of the community.
The police spokesperson identified the suspects as 24 year old Abdullahi Ismail of Sani Mainagge Quarters and 24 years Abubakar Hussein of Kankara local government area, Katsina state.
“Suspects sustained various injuries on their body and were rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital Kano for treatment. Abdullahi Isma’il was confirmed dead by a medical Doctor.
Corpse of armed robbery suspect Abdullahi Ismail
“On preliminary Investigation, the other suspect, Abubakar Hussain confessed that, they attacked the victim with intent to rob him of his Motor Vehicle,” he said.
pistol recover from armed robbery suspects
Mr Kiyawa said the Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Dikko, has ordered transfer of the case to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Command for discreet investigation.
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano state Executive Council has given approval for the implementation of new minimum wage for academic and non-academic staff of the two state own universities, with a monthly release of N49, 695, 509.26 million.
KANO FOCUS recalled that the state government has earlier reversed minimum wage of civil servants from N18,000 to N30,600 in March.
The state government, however, said that accumulated arrears from the time of the approval of the new salary structure to date would be determined pending improvement of the current financial situation in the state.
The state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, announced this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano.
He said the two institutions, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil would receive monthly allocation of N24, 560, 479.72 million and N25, 135, 029.54 million respectively for the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II (CONTISS II).
Mr Garba said the council has also approved the award of contract for the supply and installation of two 1,500 KVA generating sets at Watari 75mld Water Treatment Plant to address acute water supply shortage to the towns and villages served by the treatment plant.
He said the contract, which is worth N355, 027, 831.20 million was awarded to Messrs Mantrac Nigeria Limited for the treatment plant designed to serve Watari-Kano Pipeline, Watari-Bagwai Pipeline and Watari-Tsanyawa pipeline each with separate pumping outlet.
The commissioner also disclosed that approval has been given by the council for the release of 11 resident doctors to pursue Residency Training Programme in different fields of specialization at various teaching hospitals in the state.
Mr Garba stated that the medical doctors were on permanent and pensionable appointment under the state Hospitals Management Board and were able to secure admissions with either Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital or Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for the residency programme.
He said the training programme was to enable the medical officers graduate as consultants in their various fields of specialization under the state government sponsorship of the bonding policy that also stipulates the payment of monthly salary and annual project/book allowance of N372, 000.00 for the duration of the programme.
The council, the commissioner said, has also approved the creation of an additional department at the state Contributory Healthcare Management Board to handle the processing of claims for fee from facilities without using health maintenance organization.
He said the measure saves the agency substantial amount of resources and to equally comply with Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and the National Health Act which prohibits the engagement of third-party administrator to handle the claim processing.
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and Nigerian Communications Satellite limited NigComSat have signed a memorandum of understanding on the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Technology in the telecommunications industry.
KANO FOCUS reports that the MoU between the two agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy would lay the foundations for acquisition of Frequency Spectrum suitable for the deployment of the technology in the country.
Speaking at the occasion the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Umar Garba Danbatta, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment for deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Technology in the telecommunications industry.
Danbatta allayed fears and concerns on health and security implications over deployment of 5G, asserting Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.
According to him the resources and revenues to be earned from the deployment are so huge they cannot be ignored.
Danbatta said the NigComSat, it was discovered after investigation across the globe, had the appropriate technology to facilitate the deployment.
Danbatta said: “Amongst the Frequency Spectrum bands allocated to 5G by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU, the C-band (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz) stands out because its balancing point between coverage and capacity provides the perfect environment for 5G connectivity.
“The C-band is most suitable and appropriate for immediate deployment of 5G services taking into consideration availability of device ecosystem with 60-70% of global commercial 5G network deployment currently in the band, thus the importance of this Spectrum for early deployment of 5G services in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized.
“For optimal 5G service performance, an average of contiguous 100 MHz of spectrum in the C-band is required by an Operator. However in Nigeria, only 120 MHz of the band (3.4 – 3.52) GHz is available for mobile services while the remaining 680 MHz (3.52 – 4.2) GHz of the band is used by NigComSat (NG-1R) satellites.
“The Commission initiated negotiation with NIGCOMSAT whom in our estimate could make some adjustment to its satellite operation and release part of its Spectrum holding in the band to facilitate the deployment of 5G in Nigeria.
“The two agencies have been in discussions on how to relocate the operations of NG-1R to the standard C-band 300MHz (3.9GHz – 4.2GHz) potion of the band, which is more suitable in terms of Satellite service offering because end user terminal are cheaper there, while leaving the non-standard C-band 400MHz (3.5GHz – 3.9GHz) portion of the band for 5G use.
“The cost of relocating the NG-1R is expected to be offset from the proceeds of the auction of the 5G Spectrum.
Managing Director of NigComSat, Abimbola Alale, lauded the committees set by the two agencies for doing a thorough job in the larger interest of the country.
She said the MoU would change the narratives of digital and telecommunications industry in the country.
Chairman of the NCC board, Adeolu Akande the time has come for the country to key into adoption and deployment of 5G technology.
“In recent times, precisely from the last quarter of 2019, several administrations have begun to license Spectrum for commercial deployment of 5G.
” As we speak today, 5G services have already been deployed in United States of America, South Korea, United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Kenya and many more”, Akande said.
According to him, telecommunication evolution has led to improvement in user experience witnessed from 2G, 3G and later 4G.
Kungiyar Vigilante ta zargi rundunar ‘yan sandan Kano da bata mata suna
Shan shayi na kare mutum daga cutar hanta-Masana
Kani ya kashe wansa a Kano
Yamadawa community foils armed robbery attack, kill suspect
Kano reviews minimum wage for varsities’ staff
Gwamnatin Kano ta bada umarnin rufe gidajen Abinci da na Biredi
Kasuwancin Cryptocurrency Haramun ne- Bn Usman
Yin sahur da ‘codeine’ na rage mana wahalar azumi- matasa a Kano
‘Yan sanda a Kano sun kama makocin da ya jagoranci yiwa makocinsa fashi
