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Why we cannot defend Abduljabbar Kabara – Legal Aid
Nasiru Yusuf
The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) the controversial Kano cleric, Abduljabbar Kabara, who is standing trial on alleged blasphemy is not qualified to be represented by lawyer from the Council.
KANO FOCUS reports that Abduljabbar Kabara was arraigned on Friday, July 16, before an Upper Sharia Court at Kofar Kudu for alleged blasphemy, and incitement.
At the last adjourned day, the trial judge ordered the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) Headquarters to provide legal representation for the cleric in the ongoing trial of alleged blasphemy against the defendant.
When the court resumed sitting, Thursday, the Kano State Coordinator, Legal Aid Council, Mukhtar Labaran Usman, told the court that he attended the proceeding, in compliance with the court order issued on the last adjourned date.
“We wrote a letter to the court in respect of the order dated May 23, the council is constrained in handling the case.
“The council is a Federal Government Parastatal established by section 1(1)of Legal Aid Act 2011,”
Labaran-Usman further said “the council’s services shall only be granted to a person whose income does not exceed N30,000 per month.
“The defendant income exceed the national minimum wage and the offence to which he is arraigned is blasphemy.”
When the court contacted Kabara to hear his own response on the submission of Legal Aid Council, he told the court that he is not a civil servant and challenged that “how did the LACON knows he earns more than N30,000 minimum wage?
He prayed the court not to allow the Attorney General of Kano to provide a lawyer for him.
The defendant made some allegations against the state government, stressing that he doesn’t need a lawyer from Kano state government as it is interested party.
“I don’t believe in lawyers anymore, my former three set of lawyers betrayed me, especially the first team,” Kabara said.
The prosecution counsel, Yakubu Abdullahi, did not objected the letter written by the LACON and urged the court to order the Attorney General of Kano State to provide a legal representation for the defendant.
Section 389 and 349(5) ACJL 2019 says the Attorney General has the right to get a legal representation for the defendant
The trial judge, Yola, after listening to both parties ordered asked Dalhatu Shehu Usman to represent the defendant.
He consquently adjourned the case to June 9, for continuation of defense.
The cleric’s disagreement with his counsels
The controversial Islamic cleric, had earlier dropped his lawyers, alleging that they misled him in the ongoing case.
He alleged that “they convinced me to refuse to talk in Court on the last sittings on account that if he is considered mentally deranged he will have soft punishment against the expected capital punishment.”
Kabara told the court that his former lawyers misled him not to respond to the charges earlier filed against him at one of the previous sittings, stressing that he complied to their instructions by keeping mute at the previous sitting.
“two days before coming to that court for the last sitting, the lawyers came to the correctional facility where I was detained. They informed me that I was going to appear in court and that the charges would be read to me. Then they cautioned me that those charges were traps set to frame me that if I accept those allegations, I have walked into a technical suicide trap that have been set for me.
”They told me that already my fate has been decided that the judgement has already been written against me by this court and the only way out for me is to keep quiet. At this point, I asked them, what is the implication of my keeping quiet. They told me, they will handle it. That, after the case they will address the press. They now ask me to provide N500,000.00 for they to organize a press conference which I provided them with N300,000.00.
“Unfortunately, on that day in court, I kept quiet as instructed the court them ordered that I should undergo mental and hearing test, and then my lawyers all sited did not object. Rather I see them charting with the prosecution lawyers I felt embarrassed. It is these same lawyers who joined me with a top civil servant in the state. I will not disclose his or her name.
“The top government official advised me to allow for a medical report confirming that I am mentally sick and I will be condemned but in the process I will regain my freedom and they need only one million naira to use media to carry the process”. Kabara narrated
The spokesperson of the Defense lawyers, Rabiu Abdullahi said they are not legally in a position to reveal what happened between them and their client, but however, they advised him to embrace appropriate channel within two weeks or they would take legal action against him.
“We are legal practitioners and are guided by professional ethics, so there is no way we can reveal what happened between us and our client to the public.
“However, we call on our client Sheikh Abduljabbar to report the allegations he is having against us, which he mentioned to the court this morning to the proper authority so that we can be quizzed for violating professional ethics.
On May 12, Kabara, informed the court that, he has disengaged his lawyers for a second time.
Kabara said, he would continue to defend himself in the ongoing blasphemy case until he secured the service of new counsel.
The cleric’s counsels had previously informed the court in writing that they were withdrawing from the case.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dr Goni Faruk Umar has urged Muslims to embrace Taqwa in their daily lives, describing it as a foundation of Islam and a key to righteous conduct and success in this world and the hereafter.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Islamic scholar made the call while delivering a Juma’a sermon at the New Juma’a Mosque, Rumfa College, Kano.
In the sermon, Dr Goni Faruk Umar explained the meaning of Taqwa using classical Islamic scholarship, including an account involving Umar ibn al-Khattab and the companion Ubayy ibn Ka’b to illustrate the concept.
According to the account cited in the sermon, Sayyadina Ubayy once asked Khalifa Umar bin Khattab whether he had ever walked along a thorny path. When Khalifa Umar bin Khattab answered in the affirmative, Sayyadina Ubayy asked how he navigated it. Khalifa Umar bin Khattab replied that he gathered his clothes and proceeded cautiously to avoid being pricked.
Sayyadina Ubayy then explained that this was the essence of Taqwa: being constantly mindful of one’s actions and carefully avoiding what displeases Allah.
Dr Goni Faruk Umar said Taqwa should not be limited to acts of worship but should also guide Muslims’ conduct in contemporary society, particularly in their use of digital platforms and social media, control of the tongue, and relationships within the family.
He urged worshippers to exercise restraint in their speech, act responsibly online and uphold their obligations to family members in accordance with Islamic teachings.
The cleric also highlighted the spiritual and worldly benefits of Taqwa, including relief from hardship, ease in personal affairs, forgiveness of sins and increased rewards in the hereafter.
Quoting verses from the Qur’an, he cited Allah’s promise in Surah At-Talaq, verses 2 and 3, that whoever fears Him will be granted a way out of difficulties and provided for from sources they could not have anticipated.
He also referred to Qur’an 65:4–5, which promises ease in affairs, the removal of sins and the multiplication of rewards for those who maintain Taqwa.
The scholar reminded Muslims that worldly life is temporary and that the hereafter is their permanent destination. He therefore urged them to regard Taqwa as the best provision for the journey beyond this life.
Citing Qur’an 2:197, he emphasised that the best provision for the hereafter is Taqwa, urging believers to remain conscious of their responsibilities to Allah.
The sermon also featured prayers and salutations upon Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family and companions, in accordance with the Qur’anic instruction in Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 56.
Dr Goni Faruk Umar concluded by encouraging Muslims to remain steadfast in faith, follow the guidance of the Prophet and make righteousness a guiding principle in their daily lives.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
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