5th April, 2022
Mubarak Bala, a self-confessed atheist based in Kano has been sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment for blasphemy.
The sentencing was delivered Tuesday by a Kano State High Court sitting at Audu Bako.
Bala, who is the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, pleaded guilty to committing blasphemy against Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
This was against the advice of Justice Farouk Lawan and his lawyer, James Ibori.
Bala made the headlines in 2020 when he was arrested at his residence in Kaduna over blasphemy and incitement.
The convict who had been in a correctional facility for almost two years, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday when he was brought before the court on an 18-count charge.
While pleading with the court on Tuesday to tender justice with mercy, Bala promised not to repeat the said blasphemous post.
He said he did not know it would elicit the sort of reactions it got when he shared them.
He rebuffed the counsel that he should not plead guilty.
He insisted he knew what he was doing and maintained his plea.
In view of his plea, the judge sentenced him to 24 years’ imprisonment.
The lawyer had earlier told the court that his client had a mental problem, for which he was treated at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.