Blasphemy: PDP senator demands release of Kano barber arrested over anti-Islam hairstyle
- Senator Abba Moro wants the release of a Kano-based barber who was arrested a few weeks ago
- Elijah Odeh is a member of Senator Moro's constituency in Benue state
- The Benue state lawmaker also alleged that his constituent has been denied bail
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Senator Abba Moro has demanded the release of Elijah Odeh, a young barber arrested in Kano state over anti-Islam hairstyles, The Punch reports.
The lawmaker representing Benue South senatorial district in the National Assembly in a statement by his media office on Sunday, February 7, explained that Odeh is from his constituency.
According to Maro, the barber was allegedly nabbed by a group of Muslims over claims that he cut hairstyles that were considered to be offensive to Islam and the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
Source: Twitter
He went on to note that the barber was currently being tried in Gyadi-Gyadi magistrate’s court sitting in Kano state.
The lawmaker also stated that despite the intervention from the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, and his Kano state counterpart Abdullahi Ganduje, Odeh has not been granted bail.
He said the action was an infringement on the young man’s rights to live and do business in any part of the country without molestation and harassment.
Court reveals why Kano singer must not be sentenced to death
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Kano state high court set aside the death sentence passed on a musician, Yahaya Sheriff Aminu, by a Sharia court for alleged blasphemy.
The court while hearing the appeal, ruled against the conviction on the grounds that the trial of the accused was laced with procedural errors.
According to the publication, Kola Alapinni, the counsel to Sheriff stated that the court ordered a retrial by the upper Sharia court.
Police ordered to release Facebook user detained over alleged blasphemy
In a related development, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Nigerian police to release Mubarak Bala, a Facebook user who was detained for allegedly using his account to post a message considered to be blasphemous to Islam.
The court declared that the arrest and detention by the police were an infraction of Bala's rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression.
Justice Inyang Ekwo who delivered the verdict also ordered the police to pay the sum of N250,000 as general and exemplary damages to the defendant.
Source: Legit.ng
