The National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Ralpulchukwu Nduka, has disclosed that its representatives were denied access to Yahaya Sharif-Aminu by the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Recall that the musician, Sharif-Aminu was accused of committing blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed in a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March 2020. He was afterwards sentenced to death by hanging on August 10.
The NBA had set up a fact-finding committee following a report that Sharif-Aminu was being denied access to his lawyers, therefore, denying him the opportunity of appealing the death sentence.
The association in a statement said on getting to the prison in Kano State, they were not allowed to see the convict.
The statement reads, “The President of the Nigerian Bar Association – Mr. Olumide Akpata, in response to the allegations on the social media by Nigerians and calls by members of the Nigerian Bar Association on the Federal Correctional Centre, Kano to allow Yahaya Sharif-Aminu have access to his lawyers, set up a two-man Fact-Finding Committee made up of the NBA 1st Vice President – Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins and the National Welfare Secretary – Mr. Kunle Edun. The committee was mandated to urgently embark on a fact-finding mission to the Federal Correctional Centre in Kano.
“On September 2, 2020, the 1st Vice President and the National Welfare Secretary visited the said Correctional Centre and sought audience with the Controller of the Correctional Centre. At the Correctional Centre, the NBA National Officers were informed that the Controller of the Correctional Centre was not available. They were granted an audience by the second in command.”
“The NBA national officers informed the said second in command about their mission at the Federal Correctional Centre, Kano. They requested to see Yahaya Sharif-Aminu in order to ascertain the veracity of the allegation that lawyers were not allowed to gain access to him.”
“The said second in command informed the said national officers that he does not have the authority to grant the access sought, but would seek the permission of his boss, the Controller (who was not available as at the time of the visit) before allowing the National Officers access to Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. The afore-mentioned national officers were eventually denied access to Yahaya Sharif even after the said second in command made the call to his superior.”
“However, the said National Officers were able to confirm that Yahaya Sharif-Aminu has been denied access to any lawyer since his conviction. They were further informed that Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was not represented by a lawyer during the trial at the Upper Sharia Court.”
“The Nigerian Bar Association states that since the visit was a fact-finding mission, the NBA shall take further steps in ensuring that Yahaya Sharif-Aminu is given the requisite opportunity to exercise his constitutional right of appeal and his right to be represented by a lawyer of his choice. It is imperative that Yahaya is granted access to a lawyer of his choice.”