A Kano-based Islamic cleric, Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara, who was sentenced to death over blasphemy, has approached the Court of Appeal seeking approval to be transferred from Abuja back to Kano to support his ongoing appeal.
Kabara, currently held at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja, is requesting relocation to the Kurmawa Correctional Centre, arguing that his transfer has hindered access to key legal documents needed for his defence.
In a petition dated April 3, 2026, he said thousands of pages of court records and legal briefs were left in Kano when he was moved in October 2025, making it difficult to properly prepare for his appeal.
He also asked the court to suspend proceedings until the documents are reviewed, insisting that continuing without them could violate his constitutional right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The cleric further complained that he has been unable to attend court sessions due to the absence of a production warrant, despite efforts by his supporters to secure his appearance.
He was initially arraigned in July 2021 before an Upper Sharia Court in Kano on allegations of blasphemy and was convicted on December 15, 2022, after being found guilty of all charges filed by the Kano State government.
The Court of Appeal is yet to fix a date for hearing his latest application.