Social crusader wants American ambassador to push for pardon for condemned musician

Patrick Osagie Eholor, President of the One Love Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, who is also a social crusader, has joined the worldwide clamour for reprieve for Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Kano based musician, who have been sentenced to death by a Sharia Court on account of what was termed a blasphemous comment.


In a letter of appeal he wrote to the American ambassador in Nigeria, Eholor said: “We write to your office to request your urgent intervention on the sentencing of a Nigerian citizen, Yahaya Sharif- Aminu to death by a Sharia Court for blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed.


“The Judgement has generated condemnation from well meaning Nigerians home and abroad, including civil society organizations. 


“The judgement is also an outright violation of the Nigerian constitution, which forbids religious policing in section 10, which prohibits the practice of a State Religion in any part of Nigeria, and section 38 which guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, including freedom to change religion and belief. 


“We urgently appeal to you to prevail on the Government of Kano State, led by Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje and the Federal Government of Nigeria through all necessary diplomatic means to grant the victim of this repulsive judgement a pardon.”