Kano–born atheist Mubarak Bala has been jailed 24 years imprisonment for blasphemy against Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Bala was jailed by Justice Farouk Lawan of Kano High Court 4, Audu Bako Secretariat on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the charges levelled against him.
He had earlier posted comments critical of Islam, Allah and Prophet Muhammad on Facebook, causing outrage among Muslims.
There has been a campaign for his release or trial, with activists saying he was out of touch with his wife and lawyer.
Bala, who is the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, made the headlines in 2020 when was arrested at his residence in Kaduna over blasphemy and incitement.
He appeared on Tuesday before a court, where his lawyer had told the court that his client had a mental problem, for which he was treated at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
But Bala objected to his counsel James Ibor’s argument, asking the court to convict him.
In his plea of leniency, Bala however, said the intent of his social media posts was not to cause violence.
He, therefore, promised not to repeat the blasphemous posts in future.
The matter was initially stood down for 15 minutes after which the judge sentenced him to 24 years imprisonment.
