ABDULJABBAR SHEIKH NASIR KABARA SUBMITS DETAILED COMPLAINT TO CJN, ALLEGES POLITICAL PERSECUTION AND JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT IN DEATH SENTENCE CASE

A detained Islamic cleric sentenced to death by hanging has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, accusing the judiciary and government of a coordinated effort to obstruct his appeals and deny him a fair hearing. Abduljabbar Sheikh Nasir Kabara, who is held at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja, filed a “Letter of Further Complaint” dated March 26, 2026, urging the Chief Justice to intervene in what he describes as a systemic injustice.

Kabara was sentenced to death in December 2022 by an Upper Sharia Court in Kano over allegations that he made blasphemous statements against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The cleric maintains that his statements were scholarly in nature and that his trial was fundamentally flawed. In his petition, he claims that his efforts to appeal the verdict have been deliberately blocked by a conspiracy involving the Kano State Government and judicial authorities.

“My trial was flawed, and my appeals have been obstructed through the mismanagement of filing dates and the assignment of my case to panels that lack jurisdiction,” Kabara stated in the petition. He further alleged that state-appointed lawyers colluded with government officials to undermine his defense, adding that the charges against him were manipulated to ensure a predetermined outcome.

Beyond procedural grievances, the cleric’s complaint details what he describes as a political and international conspiracy. He named former Education Minister Adamu Adamu, alleging that the former official attempted to manipulate him during trips abroad and within Nigeria. “I was subjected to coercive financial offers designed to compromise my position,” Kabara wrote. He asserted that he resisted these efforts, after which armed security forces raided his home and mosque.

Kabara’s petition also highlights alleged interference in his institutional properties and what he calls third-party legal claims that have further complicated his case. He accused prison and government authorities of neglect in addressing his appeals, leaving him with no recourse other than to seek the direct intervention of the Chief Justice.

The cleric emphasized that the trial records, which he says amount to nearly 5,000 pages, contain clear evidence of systemic injustice. “A transparent judicial process would vindicate me,” Kabara stated, urging the nation’s top judicial officer to review the case and ensure that justice is served. He maintains that his detention and death sentence are the result of political persecution rather than a fair legal proceeding.