A sharia court in Kano has sentenced a Tijjaniyya cleric, Abdul Inyass to death for blasphemy, after nine months of secret trial.

Inyass and 13 others were arrested May last year, in Kano during a religious function in the city for blasphemy.

An Upper Sharia court Rijiya Lemu had in June last year sentenced Inyass’ accomplices, which included a woman and 8 others to death.

Vanguard recalled that a statement by the Registrar, Kano Sharia court of Appeal signed by one Alhaji Nasiru last June stated that 8 persons were found guilty in accordance with section 110 and 302 of the penal code, but Inyass sentence was delayed.

Abdul Inyas, Hajiya Mairo Ibrahim and 10 others were accused of making blasphemous statements against the Prophet of Islam, on May 5th at a religious gathering in honour of Sheik Ibrahim Inyass at Dala area in Kano.

The controversial Sheik Abdul Inyass is of Haqiqa (Realist) group, a mystical branch of Tijjaniyya movement with its headquarters in Senegal.

When the accused persons appeared in court on May 22nd, thousands of youths who stormed the court to witness the proceedings burnt down the Sharia court.

While the accused were in detention, youths again stormed and demolished Sheik Abdul Inyass residence located at Gaida, Kumbotso local government area of the municipality.

The statement added that Al Qassim Abubakar, Yahaya Abubakar, Isa Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar were discharged and acquitted by the court in tandem with sec 404 of Sharia criminal procedure.

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