The Court of Appeal in Kano State has amended the 24-year sentence imposed on Mubarak Bala, an atheist and President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, to five years.
This decision comes after Bala appealed the initial sentence handed down by a Kano State High Court in April 2022 for allegedly committing blasphemy against Allah and Prophet Muhammad.
Bala gained widespread attention in 2020 when he was arrested at his residence in Kaduna over allegations of blasphemy and incitement.
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The Kano State High Court convicted him of causing a public disturbance and sentenced him to 24 years in prison.
However, Bala appealed this sentence, pleading guilty to the charges of public disturbance. The Court of Appeal’s decision to reduce his sentence to five years is a significant development in the case.
Mr. James Ibor, Bala’s lawyer, expressed gratitude that the court acknowledged the disproportionate nature of the initial sentence. He stated that the full judgment would be made available later in the week.
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Ibor also mentioned the legal team’s interest in the court’s stance on the jurisdiction challenge raised by Bala, despite his guilty plea, which was reportedly made under duress, according to Humanists International.
The regularization of Bala’s appeal, approved by the Court of Appeal panel on February 21, 2024, was necessary due to delays in submitting appeal documents.
The court accepted written arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
Court documents reviewed by Humanists International revealed that Bala’s appeal was grounded on four key points, including the lack of jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court, allegations of the judge’s predisposition to convict, the failure to grant Bala the benefits of a guilty plea, and the misapplication of sentencing law.
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Grassroots Parrot gathered that Humanists International, advocating for Bala’s release, emphasized that his conviction appeared to stem solely from exercising his rights to freedom of religion, belief, and expression.
The organization urged the Appeal Court to overturn the trial court’s judgment, leading to Bala’s immediate and unconditional release.