The Upper Sharia Court of Appeal sitting in Bauchi has ordered the arrest of the Imam of Dutsen-Tanshi Jumma’at Mosque, Idris Abdul’aziz, over alleged blasphemy.
The Islamic cleric is standing trial over allegations of incitement of public disturbance of peace and blasphemy. Abdul’aziz was accused of making blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad and some notable Dariqa clerics.
The Guardian reports that the presiding judge of the Upper Sharia Court of Appeal, Hussaini Turaki, ruled that Abdul’aziz, who was released on bail, be forced to appear before him during the next sitting of the court on June 5.
Turaki argued that the failure of the cleric to honour the court summons served on him amounted to contempt.
But counsel for Abdul’aziz, Barrister Sadiq Abubakar Ilelah, told the court that his client’s absence was connected with an undisclosed ailment, adding that they filed a motion asking the court to give them another chance for their client to appear in the next trial.
Meanwhile, the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu bn Idris, said the case was transferred from Magistrate Court 1 to Upper Shariah Court of Appeal 1 to start the case afresh.
The judge, Turaki thereafter adjourned the case to Monday, June 5, 2023.