The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Islamic movement in Nigeria

  • Court adjourns Zakzaky’s trial indefinitely

    A Kaduna State High Court yesterday adjourned the trial of Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zinat, indefinitely.

    Justice Gideon Kurada adjourned the case due to his appointment to serve as a judge in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Yobe State.

    El-Zakzaky and wife, who have been in custody since December 2015, were arraigned at the state High Court for culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among others.

    Speaking to reporters after the adjournment, lead counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana (SAN) said the case was adjourned because Justice Kurada is serving as a judge on election petition tribunal.

    The rights lawyer said aside absence of the trial judge, El-Zakzaky and his wife were in dire need of medical attention – the reason they could not appear in court.

    Read also: Federal Govt closes ‘illegal arms importation’ case

    He alleged that the IMN leader and his wife had not been given adequate medical care since December 14, 2015, when they were detained.

    According to him, “So the court has adjourned sine die, meaning indefinitely. My clients are yet to access any form of medical attention, even after the court had ordered so.

    “The case had to be adjourned as both my clients need time to attend to their health.”

  • 2019: Beware of social media results – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi state, has urged politicians to be wary of social media posts after voting prior to the official declaration of result by the commission.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud, gave the advice during an interactive session with stakeholders in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

    “Fake news is now a trend and can mar our efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

    “We urge you to be wary of social media posted results before official declaration.

    “Only INEC Returning Officers at wards, local governments and state levels have the statutory authority and power to declare the results,” he said.

    He said that 1,938,171 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were received from INEC headquarters out of which 1,860,239 were distributed, leaving 77,932 PVCs unclaimed.

    “We have all the sensitive materials at CBN custody, so we have no fear for the materials now.

    “I collected the remaining sensitive materials that we had been awaiting for and by Wed, Feb. 20, we are going to start distributing them to remote areas and by Friday 22.

    Read Also: APC demands daily briefing from INEC

    “We hope to finish the distribution in all the 21 local government areas of the state.”

    According to him, the state has 225 wards, 1,345 voting points and 2,398 polling units in the 21 local government areas.

    “We still maintain our arrangement as we had earlier told before the postponement that, we are going to use 520 vehicles in the transportation of ad hoc staff and election materials.

    “This is part of our arrangement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC) as well as security agencies on transportation.”

    He assured that INEC was determined to ensure free, transparent and fair elections but urged the people to continue to pray for successful conduct of the exercise.

    The REC said that special arrangements had also been made to take care of physically challenged persons to enable them exercise their franchise without hitches.

    The stakeholders at the interactive session were security agencies, representatives of political parties, traditional and religious leaders as well as various NGOs and CSOs.

    NAN

     

  • Army posts Trump video to justify shooting of Shiites

    The army yesterday shared a video of President Donald Trump  of the USA to justify opening fire on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as  Shiites during a protest in Abuja earlier in the  week.

    Trump ,in the video,  warns that soldiers deployed to the Mexican border could shoot Central American migrants who throw stones at them while attempting to cross illegally.

    ”Please watch and make your deductions,” the army  said in a comment accompanying the post  on its official Twitter account.

    Trump added: “We’re not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back.

    “I told them (troops) consider it (a rock) a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexican military and police, I say consider it a rifle.”

    Army

    The army has come under fire for the death of Shiites  in the Abuja protest.

    Some of the criticism came from the US Embassy in Nigeria and Amnesty International.

    The embassy expressed ‘concern’ over the shooting and demanded an investigation

    While the IMN claimed 49 of its members were killed after troops and policemen opened fire on them, the army said only three   died and that the soldiers  responded because the protesters pelted them with stones and  some of them even carried  petrol bombs, matchetes and knives.

    “They (the Shiites) fired weapons at own troops, throwing bottle canisters with fuel, large stones, catapults with dangerous objects and other dangerous items at troops causing bodily harm and stopping motorist movement, breaking their windscreen and causing heavy traffic,” the army had said.

  • Shiites: DHQ warns Amnesty International against malicious reports on Nigerian Military

    The Defence headquarters on Thursday described Amnesty International reports on the clash between Shiites and soldiers in some parts of Abuja as absolute falsehood and should be disregarded.

    A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen John Agim said the report by AI was not the true reflection of things and wondered why the international body always come with negative narration on the security situation in the country.

    The statement read, :”The Defence Headquarters wishes to respond to Amnesty International (AI) reports in which the group alleged that the Nigerian military and the police engaged in horrific use of excessive force that led to the killing of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites during ‘peaceful’ protests.

    “The worrisome narrative of the Amnesty International (AI) in matters of national security and cohesion of Nigeria has continued unabated in spite of verifiable evidences to the contrary.

    “The Amnesty international’s hate and disdain for peaceful co-existence of Nigerians is manifested in the ways it consistently fabricates lies and gives negative narrative of issues related to Nigeria’s national security and its military. The AI report is not a true reflection of what transpired in the last few days.

    “For the sake of the good people of Nigeria and the international community who quest for the truth, what the AI “cooked up” in that report is a figment of its own imagination to further paint Nigeria black among the comity of nations.

    “The military has never been sent to stop the protesting Shi’ites group at any given time. On the events referred to by the AI, the soldiers were not after the protesting Shi’ites, neither was there such number of casualties.

    “Instead, a convoy from the Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja was conducting a routine shipment of ammunition and missiles to a military formation in Kaduna escorted by troops when they ran into the protesters at Zuba in FCT.

    ” The protesting Shi’ites prevented the convoy from proceeding on its mission but rather attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the shipment.

    “Hence, the troops had to protect the goods and extricate themselves from the imminent mob action by applying minimum force.

    “The following day, the IMN also had another confrontation with the military at a popular checkpoint along Nyanya – Mararaba road leading into the FCT.

    “Everyone living in or transiting the FCT knows that the military checkpoint had been established since 2014 after the Boko Haram Terrorist attack on Nyanya Motor Park.

    “Unfortunately, the group tried to overrun the checkpoint in which the military resisted. In all these attacks, the IMN was the aggressor while the military only acted in self defence.

    “The Shi’ites actions were planned and premeditated as the group were aware of the existence of the military checkpoint and were prepared to confront the soldiers.

    “The casualty of IMN stands at 4 wounded and 3 dead at Zuba while at the Nyanya – Mararaba road checkpoint, 3 died with 3 wounded. The military also had 6 of its personnel seriously wounded and currently at intensive care.

    “The DHQ wishes to emphasize for the umpteenth time that the narratives of the AI are outright falsehoods and calculated attempts at whipping up sentiments and misleading unsuspecting Nigerians as well as demoralizing friendly nations. The organization has continued to churn out reports that are outside the confines of the principles of objectivity, truth and balance reportage which provides all sides to the story the way it happened.

    “Sadly, AI’s past activities in Nigeria and its negative reportorial of the Nigerian Armed Forces is capable of emboldening the IMN in its unwholesome activities.

    “Also, what AI is doing could stop friendly nations from collaborating with Nigeria in its war against insurgency. The intentions of AI in Nigeria have remained suspect as the organization is always silent on the other side of issues.

    “Nigerians who witnessed how military troops on legitimate duty came under unprovoked attacks from IMN members both in Zuba area of the FCT on Sunday, 28 October 2018 and at a security checkpoint in Mararaba, Nasarawa State on Monday, 29 October 2018 have videos and images of wounded soldiers and damaged military vehicles with audio commentaries. These are available in the public domain.

    “Unfortunately, Amnesty International did not see anything wrong with these unprovoked subversive attacks on Nigerian military and other innocent passersby but was quick to refer to the activities of IMN from whom dangerous weapons and ammunition including Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), guns, knives and cutlasses were recovered as a peaceful protest.

    “This goes further to prove the point that Amnesty International does not mean well for Nigeria. This is also in tandem with their previous reputation of denigrating the security forces anytime they make gains against the forces of evil to incite the Nigerian public and international community against the Military.

    “The Defence Headquarters wishes to appeal to the general public and the international community not to be carried away with AI’s usual falsehood and blackmail which is calculated towards promoting the forces of darkness to destabilize Nigeria.”

  • Kaduna High Court frees 100 Shi’ites members in detention

    The Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday in her judgement in the “no case submission” filed by the defense lawyers on the case brought before her freed nearly 100 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites group, that were arrested at various locations in December 2015 following a clash between the group and the Nigerian Army.

    Justice Shiri Nyom in his judgement discharged and acquitted the sect members of the charges levelled against them as contained in a Press Statement signed by the President Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa and made available to newsmen.

    According to the statement, “This judgement has not only vindicated the members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, but it is certainly a victory for perseverance in the face of extreme persecution. It is a victory for truth and justice against tyranny and impunity,” said the statement.

    The Islamic Movement further stated, “It will be recalled that the Kaduna state government sued almost about 200 members of the Islamic Movement after an attack on the Movement by the Nigerian Army in December 2015 which led to the killing of over a thousand souls, including three sons of the Sheikh Zakzaky, his elder sister and a nephew.

    “The attack was sequel to the unlawful invasion of the privacy of their residence and eventual destruction of the house completely. This has been aptly described by several human rights bodies as a massacre. To worsen these flagrant crimes against humanity, bodies of all the hundreds killed were hurriedly and secretly buried in mass graves about 100 km away from the scene, apparently in a shoddy attempt at hiding the crime and its magnitude.”

    Read Also: Gunmen murders district head in Kaduna state

    The sect group reiterated its call for the release of its leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife who have equally been in the custody of the Director of State Services (DSS), “We are all aware of the crude tactics of the Kaduna state government led by Malam Nasir el-Rufai all in his devilish plots at perpetuating the persecution against the Islamic Movement and the continued detention incommunicado of Sheikh Zakzaky and his ailing wife in spite of previous court judgement ordering their immediate release from detention, thereby further flaunting his fundamental rights and rights to liberty.

    “With this victory in the court today, the false charges filed against them of aiding and abetting the culpable homicide has been punctured for good. We await the response of the Kaduna state government as Sheikh Zakzaky’s case comes up in the next two days. We expect them to respect the judgement of this honourable court and the course of justice to withdraw the fake charges against him and release him with immediate effect.

    “As a peaceful Movement, we have kept to our clean tradition of seeking redress through peaceful means without any resort to violence despite deliberate and persistent provocations by the government. Today, Kaduna state government has again failed in court after a fair trial. We therefore give praises to the Almighty Allah for yet another successful outing, which further proves to the world that the Movement and its leader are only victims of impunity and mischievous plots by the El-Rufai-led government,” according to the statement.

    The Islamic Movement in Nigeria thanked all those that stood by it throughout the trial, “We wish to use this opportunity to also say a big thank you to all people of conscience, human rights activists and organizations, journalists and all those that joined in our dogged campaign for justice for the victims of Zaria genocide. Thank you and God bless.”

  • Police, Shi’ites clash in Kaduna, scores injured

    Policemen and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria clashed on Wednesday as the group protested the continued detention of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.

    Police and the sect members fired gunshots during the clash and several people, including two policemen, were wounded in the incident.

    The Shiite members took over the popular Ahmadu Bello way, carried placards  and demanded the immediate release of their leader.

    “The two injured policemen are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the area, “the spokesman of the state police command, Aliyu Mukhtar, said.

     

  • Many injured, vehicle smashed as Shiites protest in Abuja

    The members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as the Shiitees, were said to have had it rough and bloody in Abuja this morning, when they were said to have insisted that their daily sit out protest at the Unity Fountain must continue.

    The development was after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command had cordoned off the whole area last Friday with crime scene tape banning all manner of protest from taking place.

    It was also gathered that their insistence to regain control of the Unity Fountain and  go ahead with their peaceful protest against the orders of the police,  however,  sparked off violence and riot that got many people injured and vehicles smashed.

    The daily sit out protest of the Shiites had lasted for over two months at the Unity Fountain, and just a week ago, a new dimension was introduced into the protest, where the protesters March in large numbers that obstruct traffic flows, to different restricted places in Abuja to make a case for the release of their leader.

    The Police that had heavily mobilized its officers, Armored Personnel Carriers and security dogs to enforce the ban in the area, while  applying force to disperse the rioting protesters by firing tear gas and using hot water tanks against at them.

    An eye witness, a taxi driver who ran into the cross fire, but escaped death my whisker, said that the protesters were not dissuaded by the tear gas and the hot water that police was using against them.

    He stated that the protesters faced the police, hauling stones and sticks at them, and also smashing vehicles that were around.

    “I didn’t know what was happening, but I before I could realize it, I was already in the midst of the protesters with the passengers I was carrying in my car. I hurried reversed my car and escaped from hurt.

    “The Shiites faced the police with stones and sticks, in fact it was when the soldiers came that they disappeared, and some of them flew with injuries and blood on their bodies”, he noted.

    The protesters had presently been dispersed, but there was heavy presence of Soldiers, Civil Defence Corps, the Police and other plain clothes security agents, who were mounted right from the Federal High Court Junction, to the Nigeria Communication Commission office in Maitaima.

    There were also various signs of violence, with canisters of tear gas, stones and sticks, even smashed car glasses along the roads in these areas.

  • Police arrest 52 members of IMN over protest

    Police arrest 52 members of IMN over protest

    The FCT Police Command have arrested 52 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. (IMN).

    The police explained that the members were arrested because they embarked on a violent protest while demanding the release of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

    The police also claimed that bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used by members of the sect to attack police operatives and damage police operational vehicles were recovered from some of the members arrested.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja yesterday by the Command Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah. The Statement reads: “Following the violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) group who went on rampage and were attacking innocent citizens including Police operatives on Wednesday 10th January, 2018, the FCT Police Command has arrested some members of the sect and recovered some bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used by members of the sect to attack police operatives and damage police operational vehicles.

    “52 members of the El-Zakzaky group arrested by police operatives during today 10th January, 2018 violent protest that left some policemen with injury will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation”.

    The police also explained that the protest which has been on since Monday disrupted the movement of residents.

    “It is pertinent to state that the unlawful action of members of the sect which started on Monday 8th January, 2018 is constituting a serious security threat to the peace of the Federal Capital Territory and at the same time disrupting innocent citizens from going about their lawful businesses.

    “In view of the current security situation in the Country, the Command wishes to unequivocally state that while it will continue to be professional in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory roles of the protection of lives and property of the good people of FCT; and equally recognise the rights of citizens to express their lawful grievances, the Command will not fold its arms and watch some persons hold the capital city to ransom by disrupting government and legitimate business activities.”

    The police also warned that any person or group of persons arrested for violating the provisions of the Constitution while registering their protest will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the appropriate section(s) of the law.

  • Rumble in Zakzaky’s camp

    Rumble in Zakzaky’s camp

    It is over eight months since Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered the immediate release of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The order was not obeyed and the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) remains in custody.

    The situation has forced followers of the Shi’ites sect leader to often take to the streets in major cities of the North, particularly Kaduna, demanding his and his wife’s unconditional release. They have been in custody since December 2015.

    Members of the Islamic sect clashed with the men of the Nigerian Army in December 2015. The clash left many people dead, while the sect leader, Sheikh Zakzaky was later arrested during the soldiers’ raid on his house in Zaria two days later and handed over to the Department of State Service (DSS).

    However, after several protests and litigation, Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja in December 2016 ordered his release and 24-hour police protection for El- Zakzaky and his wife when they are released from custody.

    Apart from their release, the court ordered the authorities to provide them a decent accommodation alongside their family. Respondents in the suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/281/2016 are the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney General of the Federation.

    Lagos lawyer and activist Femi Falana (SAN) had approached the court for the release of the religious leader and his wife from detention.

    The court held: “The Respondents shall within 45 days of this judgement make proper and decent arrangement of a residential abode for the applicant and his family in Kaduna State or anywhere of their choice within the northern region, where the applicant and his wife and their children can relocate when released upon the expiration of 45 days from today, that is December 2, 2016.”

    Justice Kolawole said further; “Let me state clearly and for the avoidance of doubt that the failure of the government to effect the release of the applicant and his wife from its custody or any illegal custody whatsoever, upon the expiration of the 45th day from December 2, 2016, such failure shall not only constitute a deliberate act of disobedience of these orders, but it will crystallise into fresh cause of action of infraction of the Applicant’s rights and his wife to personal liberty guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

    “The Inspector General of Police or any of its subordinate officers not below the rank of Assistant Inspector General when he received the applicant and his wife as ordered, shall take immediate steps within 24 hours, convey the applicant and his wife under necessary security escort to their place of abode as would have been provided by the 1st Respondent, DSS, working in conjunction with the third Respondent, AGF.

    “The 2nd Respondent, Police, shall then provide the applicant and his wife police protection which shall operate round the clock until the alleged threats which were not provided by any admissible evidence but left in the realm of speculation are moved or significantly diminished,” the Judge said.

    Eight months after, Zakzaky’s followers have been left with no alternative but to the continue protests, as the authorities have refused to release their leader.

    During one of the protests in Kaduna, the protesting Shi’ites asked the government to immediately release their leader or exterminate all of them. They also vowed never to rest until federal government releases their leader, who has been in DSS custody since December 2015.

    The angry protesters, who temporarily blocked major highways in Kaduna metropolis were seen with placards with varying inscriptions such as, “Free Zakzaky”, “We demand justice”, “We are Nigerians”, “Release El-zakzaky or kill us all,” among others.

    Addressing newsmen, spokesperson for the protesters, Mallam Nuhu Mafara said they were out in large numbers to agitate for the unconditional release of their leader who has been in detention since the December 2015 clash between the members of the Islamic sect and men of Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    “The protest was a joint action against the illegal detention of our leader Ibrahim El-zakzaky  and all members from Kano Jigawa, Niger, Bauchi, Zamfara and other northern states are here today to demand the unconditional release of our leader.

    “Today also marks over 250 days since a court of the land set him (El-Zakzaky) free, but the cabals holding Nigerians to ransom have stubbornly refused to obey court orders”, he added.

    Also, a statement signed by one of the group’s top members Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, read in part “while there are known figures in Nigeria today, agitating for the breakup of the country into pieces, with some even issueing ultimatum, to the government. But here is Sheikh Zakzaky, who has never committed any treasonable offence languishing in jail.

    “Precisely the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has clocked 612 days today in the gulag of Buhari administration illegally. It is today well over 250 days when an honorable court of the land set him free from detention, but the cabals holding Nigerians to ransom have stubbornly refused to obey the courts orders”.

    The statement described what happened in Zaria in 2015 as ugly incidences, saying, “during the pogrom that included incessant killing of over 1000 unarmed members of the Movement, burning of some of them alive, looting of their property and demolishing their buildings all perpetrated by the Nigerian Army and the Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    “The worst part of all this oppression against Sheikh Zakzaky who enjoys millions of followership in Nigeria and beyond, is that to date none of the perpetrators of the genocidal crime in the Army and Kaduna state government has been brought to book. Some have even been rewarded with promotion in their various places of work. These and many more instances of cruelty against the Sheikh made him to be the most oppressed person in Nigeria of today.”

     

  • Zaria Clash: El-Zakzaky drags FG, Army, others to Court 

    Zaria Clash: El-Zakzaky drags FG, Army, others to Court 

    The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as the Shi’ite sect, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky who is still under custody dragged the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and others to the Federal High Court, demanding for N3bn as general damages.

    Others dragged sued alongside the Army and its chief are Director General State Security Services (SSS), Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to court as 1st-5th respondents.

    In the suit with No FHC/ABJ/CS/247/16 the IMN leader through his counsels, Femi Falana SAN, Festus Okoye Esq, Maxwell Kyon Esq among others is seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, freedom of movement, dignity of the human person and right to private and family life.

    A copy of the suit made available to newsmen in Kaduna Wednesday at a press briefing read that, the applicant is also seeking an order of the court to compel the respondents jointly and severally to pay to their client the sum of three billion naira as general damages for the illegal violation of his fundamental rights to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing, privacy and private property.

    The applicant is seeking a declaration that the violent invasion of his private residence at No 1 Wali road, Gyallessu, Zaria in Kaduna State December 14, 2015 is a fragrant violation of his fundamental rights to privacy and private property as guaranteed‎ by the constitution.

    • A declaration that shooting of the applicant by armed soldiers who are members of the 1st respondent on Sunday, December 14, 2015 at his residence is illegal and unconstitutional.
    • A declaration that the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted to the applicant by armed soldiers who are members of the 1st respondent is a fragrant vuolation of his foundamental right to dignity of human person as guarantted by the constitution.
    • A declaration that the extra judicial killing of ‎the appicants three children namely: Hameed Ibrahim (18), Ali Haidar Ibraheem (16), and Humaid Ibraheem (14) by armed soldiers who are agents of the 1st respondent at his residence in Gyallesu, the Hussainiya Baqiyyatulah and several other members of the IMN as on 14, 2015 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the foundamental right of the deceased to life.
    • A declaration that the arrest of the applicant without warrant i$gn his house at Zaria by armed soldiers who are agents of the 1st respondent on 14, December, 2015 is a fragrant violation of his fundamental rights to privacy and private property.
    • A declaration that the detention of the applicant at Kaduna and Abuja by the 2nd and 3rd respondents wihout access to mebers of his family and the IMN since December 14th 2015 till date is illegal and unconstitutional.
    • A declaration that the continued detention of the applicant from the 14th day of December 2015 till date without charging him to court of law is illegal and unconstitutional as it violate his fundamental right to fair hearing‎ as enshrined in the constitution.

    The counsels are also seeking an order of the court directing the immediate and unconditional release of the applicant from the custody of the second and third respondent.

    The counsel also sought an order of the court restraining the respondent from further arresting and or detaining and or harassing the applicant in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.

    Addressing newsmen on behalf of the Counsels, Festus Okoye stressed that, “The continued detention of the Islamic leader from 14th day of December, 2015 till date without charging him to court before a properly constituted court of law is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental human rights to fair hearing as enshrined in section 36 (5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

    “That the arrest of the leader of the movement on 14th day of December, 2015 and his detention till date without access to his medical doctor is unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental rights to personal liberty and health as enshrined in section 35 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended) and articles 6 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

    He expressed dismay with the extra judicial killing of the leader’s three children and hundreds of other members of the movement by the armed soldiers, adding that the arrest of El-Zakzaky without warrant in his home at No. 1 Wali road, Gyallesu, Zaria by armed soldiers was a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights to privacy and private property guaranteed by section 35 (1) (4) (6) of the constitution of Nigeria.

    Speaking on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government, he said, the leader of the Islamic movement of Nigeria expressed his reservations about the movement putting his appearance before the commission of inquiry particularly considering the composition of the commission and the fact that the Nigerian Army is a federal institution that is not subject to the control of the Kaduna State government and its agencies.

    “During our conference with the leader of the Islamic movement of Nigeria, we notified him of the fact that the Kaduna State government has set up a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the remote and immediate causes of the Army/Shiite clash and also of the fact that scores of members of the movement lost their lives during the clash while over 200 of them are in prison custody on allegations of attempted murder of the Chief of Army Staff.

    “He instructed us to challenge the composition of the commission and its impartiality in court and also instructed that we file an application to enforce his fundamental rights which we agreed has been and are still being infringed upon by his continued detention without trial and without his having been informed of the basis upon which he was being detained.

    “On the 12th day of April 2016, we filed 2 originating motions before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on behalf of the leader of the Islamic Movement and his wife, Zeenat. Joined in the said originating summons are the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation seeking identical reliefs for both applicants,” he observed.