Seven days left for the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to make good his threat of signing the death warrant of a singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, accused of blaspheming Islam Holy Prophet.
But as the clock ticks against the 30-day appeal window, Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana has said that officials of the Sharia Court in Kano which sentenced the singer, have been frustrating the appeal process by delaying the release of the certify true copy of the court judgment.
Ganduje had said that once the 30 day appeal window closes, he would sign the death sentence of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, accused of blaspheming Prophet Muhammed in a song that was circulated via WhatsApp.
According to PUNCH, officials of the Upper Sharia Court in Kano State refused to make available certified true copies of the judgment to the lawyer of the convict.
Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death on August 10, and has an appeal grace that would elapse on Wednesday, September 9.
For the appeal to be valid, the convict would have to personally sign the notice of the appeal while certified copies of the original judgment will be attached to it.
But PUNCH said Sharif-Aminu has been denied access to his lawyers. And to add more frustration to the case, the newspaper said the Sharia court officials have also failed to provide copies of the judgment.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who has been at the fore front of saving Sharif-Aminu from the hangman, said he had continued to make efforts to get the judgment but was facing brick-wall from the Upper Sharia Court.
“They have not released the judgment and time is running out. And if we cannot obtain copies of the judgment, we cannot appeal. They have just been saying the judgment is not ready and the days are counting,” Falana said.