The legal team of Kano controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara on Thursday withdrew their representation of the cleric in a case with Kano State Government.
The Kano State Government charged the controversial cleric with blasphemy and incitement on July 16.
Although he denied the charge, the court headed by Justice Ibrahim Sarki Yola ordered that he be remanded in the correctional custody pending the determination of the charge against him.
The judge also ordered mental and hearing checks on the cleric, following a request by the prosecution counsel, Surajo Sa’ida.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, however, the Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital in Kano says Abduljabbar does not have a mental illness.
A BBC correspondent who attended the court hearing said only Abduljabbar’s lawyer who attended the sitting, Barrister Haruna Magashi said they withdrawn from representing the cleric.
“Other lawyers have also withdrawn from Abduljabbar’s defense and none of them attended the court hearing,” he said.
Explaining the results of the hospital tests presented to the court, the Dawanau Hospital for Psychiatrists said Abduljabbar had been hospitalized for four days in the past.
“When he once had an altercation with his family he was once hospitalized for four days, but he was never tested and was never treated,” the statement read before the court.
Judge Ibrahim Sarki Yola, who is presiding over the case, questioned the results of the Murtala Hospital where Abduljabbar was taken for an ear test, for failing to answer questions at the previous court hearing, which is thought to have caused an ear problem.
“As a result of an ear test we received from Murtala Hospital, it was confirmed that Abduljabbar has no ear problems or hearing loss at all,” the presenter said.
Judge Yola said he accepted Abduljabbar’s lawyers’ request to withdraw from his defense.
The case has been adjourned to September 30, 2021.