Cleric sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy in Kano, Nigeria

An Islamic court has sentenced a Nigerian cleric to death by hanging for insulting the Prophet Muhammad in the northern city of Kano.

Abdulazeez Dauda, popularly known as Abdul Inyass, was convicted after a trial held in secret to avoid protests.

Five of his followers were also sentenced to death last year.

These are the first death sentences for blasphemy handed down by a Nigerian Sharia court; those delivered for other offences have not been carried out.

Mr Inyass is a preacher at a local faction of the Tijaniya sect, founded in Senegal by Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, which has a large following across West Africa.

He was reported to have said that "Niasse was bigger than Prophet Muhammad" during a lecture at an event in May, leading to violent protests in the city.

The BBC's Yusuf Ibrahim Yakasai in Kano says he then fled to the capital, Abuja, and nine of his followers were arrested for their alleged part in organising the event.

When they were arraigned in court, there were further clashes and the courthouse was set on fire, he says.

Four of the followers were acquitted and the five sentenced to death are appealing against their conviction at the state's high court.

Kano has a predominately Muslim population and Islamic courts operate alongside secular courts.

Mr Inyass, whose five-month trial was held in secret for security reasons, will also be able to appeal against the verdict at a the high court.

Several states in northern Nigeria introduced Sharia after the country returned to civilian rule in 1999.

The Sufi sect of Tijaniya was founded in Algeria in 1784 by Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tijani.

It spread all over the world, with large following in North and West Africa. It also has followers in South Africa, Indonesia and other parts of the world.

There are other Sufi sects in Islam but Tijaniya is the largest.

They have three main daily practices: Asking the forgiveness of God; sending prayers to the Prophet Muhammad and affirming the Oneness of Allah.

Senegalese-born Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse was credited with reviving the sect in the 20th Century. People travel from across the continent to visit his shrine.

They have several factions including the Haqiqa (Realist) group, whose members were convicted of blasphemy in Kano.


BBC

Robbers shoot and kill Nigeria Football Federation official Ibrahim Abubakar

Nigerian Football Federation official Ibrahim Abubakar was shot dead by at his home in Abuja this morning, according to reports.

The country’s football governing body announced on Twitter that armed robbers had killed the head of protocol.

It was explained that Abubakar’s remains will be taken to Kaduna, in the northwest of the country, for burial.

The NFF’s official Twitter feed read: ‘NFF’s Head of Protocol Ibrahim Abubakar was shot dead by armed robbers in his house in Abuja in the early hours of today.

‘Abubakar’s remains is being taken to Kaduna for burial.’

No more details are yet known about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Ex-Arsenal and Portmouth forward Nwankwo Kanu offered his condolences via Tiwtter.

METRO

Nigerian comic startup creating its own universe of superheroes

Comic Republic, a Nigerian comics startup based in Lagos, is creating a universe of superheroes for Africans and black readers around the world. The cast of characters—”Africa’s Avengers” according to some fans—ranges from Guardian Prime, a 25-year old Nigerian fashion designer by day who uses his extraordinary strength to fight for a better Nigeria, to Hilda Avonomemi Moses, a woman from a remote village in Edo state who can see spirits, and Marcus Chigozie, a privileged but angry teenager who can move at supersonic speeds.

“I thought about when I was young and what I used to make my decisions on: What would Superman do, what would Batman do? I thought, why not African superheroes?” Chief executive Jide Martin, who founded the company in 2013, told Quartz. Its tagline is, “We can all be heroes.”

The startup may be a sign that comics are having a moment on the continent as well as in a market once said to lack interest in African-inspired characters. The nine-person team has seen downloads of its issues, published online and available for free, grow from a couple hundred in 2013 to 25,000 in its latest release last month as the series has become more popular. Comic Republic plans to make money from sponsorships and advertisers.

So far, companies have asked Comic Republic to create comics for their products and NGOs have asked for help illustrating public health risks like malaria. The head of one of the country’s largest e-commerce outfits, has asked for a portrait of himself rendered as a superhero. The story of one the characters, Aje—Yoruba for “witch”—may be made into a movie by a local filmmaker. Another edition of Guardian Prime’s story is scheduled for this month.

The startup is part of what some say is a renaissance of made-in-Africa music, literature, and art that resonate beyond the continent. Over half of Comic Republic’s downloads are from readers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a scattering are from other countries like Brazil and the Philippines. About 30% come from Nigeria, according to Martin. Lagos now hosts an annual Comic Con for the comic and entertainment industry. Kenya hosted one for the first time in 2015.

The comic book industry has potential in Africa in part because of the popularity of superhero-themed films, Martin points out. His company launched with Guardian Prime, “a black Superman,” he says, on the same day as the 2013 premiere of Man of Steel.

Other African characters have already emerged. A popular South African comic, Kwezi, or “star” in Xhosa and Zulu, created by designer and artist Loyiso Mkize, follows a teenage superhero in Gold City, a metropolis imagined after Johannesburg. The comic, which features plenty of local slang and cultural references, is a “a coming of age story about finding one’s heritage,” according to Mkize. Nigerian animator Roye Okupe’s graphic novel, E.X.O: The Legend of Wale Williams released in August, is meant to “put Africa on the map when it comes to telling superhero stories,” according to Okupe.

Comic Republic’s universe of heroes differs from its Western peers in other ways. Of the nine characters created by Comic Republic, four are women, which Martin believes is a reflection of the fact that women are active in politics and business circles. “Today’s Nigeria, we’re very indifferent to whether someone is a man or woman. I wouldn’t say there was any strategic decision. It’s just a way of life for us,” he said.

Beyond battling evil and saving the day, the comics are meant to show how individuals can come together to provide for a “better safer Africa,” chief operations officer, Tobe Ezeogu said in November.

That message appears to be getting across to some readers. One fan wrote on Comic Republic’s Facebook wall of its flagship character, Guardian Prime, “My favorite quote [by him]: ‘All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to stand by and do nothing. I won’t stand by. I am Nigerian.’ I’m not Nigerian, but heroes are going to help the youth and stimulate patriotism.”



Quartz


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Tallest Jesus Christ statue in Africa unveiled in Nigeria

The Bishop of Orlu Catholic Diocese, Augustine Ukwuoma, on Friday unveiled the African tallest statue of Jesus Christ weighing 8.5 metres (28 ft) at St. Aloysius Catholic Parish, Abajah, Imo.

The statue, made of marble, is bigger than the 20 metres (66 foot) Ramesses ii Abusimbel statue in Egypt.

Mr. Ukwuoma performed the ceremony shortly after a mass attended by the Bishop Emeritus of Orlu Diocese, Gregory Ochiagha, and more than 100 priests at St. Aloysius Parish Abajah compound on Friday.

One Obinna Onuoha, who donated the Jesus statue, had constructed 2, 000 seating capacity parish church at St. Aloysius in the year 2012.

The unveiling of the statue was used to mark the wedding golden jubilee ceremony of the parents of Mr. Obinna, Geoffrey, and Lolo Justina Onuoha.

Mr. Ukwuoma, who described the statue as magnificent, commended the Mr. Onuoha family for the gift and their benevolence to the church.

“This statue is a great symbol of Christian faith, and I pray that for the Catholics that the statue will continue to constantly remind us of what Jesus Christ stands for us.

“For other passersby, looking at the statue will also bring them closer to Jesus,’’ the Bishop said.

Speaking on the golden jubilee, the cleric used the medium to remind marital couples on the need to see marriage as a vocation through which they could positively impact on the society.

“God did not call any of us clergy and religious to be fathers and mothers, but those called into this vocation must use it to reflect God’s peace, love and unity.

Mr. Onuoha, the Managing Director of Premier Petroleum Ltd., and the donor of the statue, said he constructed the statue to fulfill a vow he made to God in the year 1997.

“Asking why I constructed this statue is like asking how do I came to this world, I am a Christian and a Catholic and Jesus statue represents my faith.

“I believe we are here on earth for different purposes and each person moves with his/her instincts, and I was motivated to do this to build up the faith of this community,’’ he said.

Mr. Onuoha, who did not mention the cost of the statue, added, “It took about three years to construct and erect the Jesus De Saviour statue at Abajah.’’

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