Blasphemy: Cleric not eligible for pro-bono service, says Legal Aid Council

The Lawful Assist Council of Nigeria categorically mentioned in Kano on Thursday that the Cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Kabara, who is standing trial over alleged blasphemy is not skilled to be represented by a lawyer from the Council.

It ought to be recalled that on Might 12, the presiding choose purchased the Lawful Aid Council of Nigeria Headquarters to provide legal illustration for the cleric in the ongoing trial about alleged blasphemy against the defendant.

On the court’s resumed sitting on Thursday for continuation of defence, the Kano Condition Coordinator, Lawful Help Council, Barrister Mukhtar Labaran Usman, advised the court docket that he attended the continuing in compliance with the court get issued on the previous adjourned day.

He stated, “We wrote a letter to the court in respect of the buy, dated May perhaps 23, that the council is constrained in dealing with the case.

“The council is a Federal Federal government Parastatal, recognized by Section 1(1) of Lawful Support Act 2011.”

Moreover, Labaran-Usman stated, the council shall only be granted to a particular person, whose cash flow does not exceed the N30, 000 minimum wage for each month.

“The defendant’s profits exceeded the nationwide bare minimum wage and the offence to which he is arraigned is blasphemy.

“Blasphemy is not detailed in the council act to permit it characterize the defendant,” he additional.

When the court docket contacted Sheikh Abduljabbar to hear his possess reaction on the submission of the Legal Aid Council, he advised the courtroom that he is not a civil servant and questioned how the LACON realized that he earns a lot more than N30, 000 minimal wage.

He prayed the courtroom not to permit the Legal professional-Standard of Kano to supply a law firm for him, including that he built some allegations towards the point out govt, as nicely as stressing that he doesn’t need to have the Kano State Government to offer a law firm for him, insisting that Kano point out Govt is an intrigued social gathering.

“I never imagine in lawyers anymore, my previous a few sets of lawyers betrayed me, specifically the 1st staff,” the cleric explained.

The prosecution counsel, Yakubu Abdullahi, did not object to the letter composed by the LACON and urged the courtroom to purchase the Legal professional-Basic of Kano Point out to present a legal illustration for the defendant.

Part 389 and 349(5) ACJL 2019 suggests the Attorney General has the suitable to get a lawful illustration for the defendant.

After listening to each events, the presiding Choose, Malam Ibrahim Sarki Yola, ordered Barrister Dalhatu Shehu Usman to depict the defendant and as a result adjourned the case right up until June 9, for continuation of defence.

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