The Kano State government-established Shura Council has summoned Islamic preacher Sheikh Lawan Shuaibu Abubakar to appear and defend himself against allegations of blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam.
The government, through the Secretary to the State Government, forwarded all petitions and counter-petitions levelled against Sheikh Lawan Shuaibu Abubakar Triumph to the Shura Committee for review.
Speaking after the meeting of the Shura Council on the matter, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Shehu Sagagi, said that the petitions and counter-petitions were deliberated upon. In the end, the committee, under the chairmanship of the Waliyan Kano, resolved that both the petitioners and counter-petitioners, as well as the person against whom the petition was made, would be invited.
“Malam Lawan Abubakar Shuaibu Abubakar Triumph will be invited, after listening to the petitioners and counter-petition, he will be invited also and questioned for him to defend himself against those allegations, after which the outcome of those interactions with the two groups, then the Committee will deliberate, and the deliberation will be in accordance with the strict Islamic jurisprudence,” he said.
Sagagi said the Shura Council would thereafter advise the state government accordingly.
“That’s the resolution today. Our only call is for people to maintain peace and harmony in the state, considering the fact that in the seven north-western states, only Kano appears to be peaceful, and we have a duty, all of us, to maintain this peace, at least for the economic and social progress of the state,” he said.
The committee commended the state government for taking the initiative to bring this issue before the Shura Committee, because it’s a committee that comprises well-known scholars, and they are well-versed in Islamic jurisprudence.
“They will be able to advise the Government accordingly, and we are going to do that,” he added.
He noted, “The fundamental issues were the allegations that the Prophet had lice on his head; that he urinated while standing; that there was nothing miraculous about his birth, alleging he compared it with that of animals; and that the Prophet’s parents were in hell fire.
“These are the major accusations against him, and to us, it’s a mere allegation, and to when they come before the committee and substantiate, and for him also to defend himself, after which the deliberation will commence, and we’ll advise the government accordingly.”
