Kano's appellate bench has ordered Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasir Kabara's lawyers to submit the books used as trial evidence. The directive came during hearings on his death sentence appeal.
Kabara challenges a blasphemy conviction from the Upper Sharia Court at Kofar Kudu. He was found guilty of insulting Prophet Muhammad.
His legal team argued the lower court's judgment should be overturned completely. They want all charges dismissed against their client.
Government lawyers took the opposite stance in court. They're pushing for the original conviction and sentence to stand.
Justice Nasir Saminu, who presided over the hearing, made the ruling. He said the appellate court needs those books to properly review the case.
Kabara's defense team must now produce the materials from the original trial. Word on when the appeal judgment comes down hasn't been set yet.
