Tag Archives: El-Zakzaky

FG re-arraigns El-Zakzaky’s chief security officer, two others.

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The Federal Government on Monday re-arraigned Haruna Abbas, the Chief Security Officer to Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and two others before Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The Federal Government had arraigned Haruna Abbas, Ibrahim Musa and Adam Suleiman, before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The defendants were arraigned on an amended 8-count criminal charge for allegedly supporting terrorism between 2009 and 2013, by sending people for terrorist training in Iran.

The offence contravened the provisions of Section 4, of the Terrorist Prevention Act 2013.

At the commencement of hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Chike Nnenna, informed the court that the matter was starting afresh as the charge was dated November 5, 2014.

She urged the court to accept the charge and allow same be read to the defendants to enable them take their plea.

When the charge was read, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

The prosecuting counsel made an oral application that Ibrahim Musa (the 2nd defendant) who is still in the custody of the State Security Service, be remanded in prison.

The counsel to Mr. Abbas, Aliyu Musa, informed the court that he wished to make an oral application on the health condition of the defendant.

Justice Chikere, however, refused the oral application made by Mr. Musa and told him to file a motion which will be heard on the next adjourned date.

The judge adjourned the case till May 11 for hearing of the motion and ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

The three persons being prosecuted are among scores of members of the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, who were arrested after the December 2015 attack that saw soldiers kill over 300 Shiites.

Their leader, Mr. El-Zakzaky, has been held in prison without trial since then despite a court order and calls for his release by local and international rights groups.

 

Source: NAN

Shiites urge VP Osinbajo to release El-Zakzaky, wife

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The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, has urged Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to release its leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and wife from detention.

The group’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, made the renewed call yesterday in a statement.

He said they were encouraged by Osinbajo’s recent statement at Eko Stakeholders Summit, which condemned police and judges for illegally detaining suspects without trial.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, represented the acting president at the summit.

Musa urged Osinbajo, in his capacity as the acting president to release their detained leaders in line with his declaration at the summit.

He said this was necessary since a Federal High Court had ordered their release over a year ago.

He accused the Federal Government of not respecting the rule of law, stating that despite the fact that El-Zakzaky met his bail conditions within the stipulated time, he is yet to regain his freedom.

He said it is conflicting for government to condemn illegal detention of suspects when El-Zakzaky and others had been detained for more than one year without charging them to court.

Musa said: “It is unfortunate that Osinbajo, who is a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), could serve in a regime that flouts court orders.”

He, therefore, urged Malami to demonstrate the country’s respect for the rule of law by commencing the process of their release.

Hundreds Of Shi’ite Protest Continued Detention Of El Zakzaky.

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Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites in Nasarawa state, have again staged another protest over the continued incarceration of their leader, (Sheik) Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

This time, the IMN protesters joined their counterparts across the 36 states of the federation including Abuja, protesting what they termed illegal detention of their leader, due to the FG’s decision not to obey court order for the immediate release of El-Zakzaky, his wife and other members of the movement in 2016.

The continued detention of the IMN leader and his wife since December 2015, after the murder of over 300 of his followers has been an issue for the members of the movement leading protests for his release.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on December 2, 2016 had awarded a cumulative sum of 50 million Naira to the Zakzakys and ordered the AGF and IGP to provide him a new accommodation and security in any part of Kaduna or Northern region that they prefer within 45 days; a judgment which is however yet to be obeyed.

The protesters, comprising of women, youths and children, gathered at the popular Lafia eid prayer ground along Shendam road.

They were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions lambasting the Federal Government for disobeying court order.

Chanted praises of the embattled leader, they demanded his unconditional release, as well as that of other members who have been in custody for over eight months.

Singing in the Hausa, Arabic and English languages, the group pledged their allegiance stating: “We will never rest until our leader and others are freed, despite stories of El-zakzaky’s deteriorating health condition due to gunshot wounds.

Why El-Zakzaky, wife are still in detention – Presidency

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The presidency yesterday justified why the leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, is still been detained by the authorities.

 

Outlining the impediments inhibiting his release, he said the Federal Government is looking into the case with the public and security interest dimensions among others above any other individual claim of right.

 

A top presidency official who craved anonymity yesterday explained that public interest and national security implications must be considered in line with international practices that conventionally place national security and public interest above any other individual claim of right.

 

His words: “The major constitutional policy objective of government as stated in section 14 (2) (b) is public and not individual security.

 

“The issue of the release of Zakzaky is not exclusively legal. It has security and public interest as against individual interest undertones.

 

“The Federal Government is looking into the case and taking security interest dimensions into consideration,” the official said.

 

Making further clarification on the alleged detention of the religious leader’s wife along side her husband, the source stated that El-Zakzaky’s wife was not of any security interests and therefore was merely keeping her husband company in the apartment in which he is kept.

 

“She is not under detention. If it is her wish, that of her husband or of the IMN, she will be allowed to go home in a matter of hours,” he said.

 

Source: Guardian

Shiites Ask NHRC To Intervene In Zakzaky’s Continued Detention

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Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene in the continued detention of their leader, Mr Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

The group, popularly known as Shiites, took to the NHCR headquarters in Abuja to protest what they called “a flaunt on the laws of the land with impunity” by the Federal Government.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had in a ruling on December 2, 2016 ordered the release of the Shiites’ leader and his wife in 45 days, a deadline which had expired.

The Federal Government, however, is yet to obey the order.

The Shiites maintained that the government must obey the court order and release their leader and his wife, Zeenah.

The Secretary to the Academic Forum of the Islamic group, Mr Abdullahi Musa, described the continued detention as “unconstitutional and an infringement on the rights” of their leader and his wife.

Zaria Residents Protest Against El-Zakzaky's Release
Mr Ibraheem El-Zakzaky

“The court has ordered the government to free him (El-Zakzaky) within 45 days and today (Tuesday) is the 47th day (and) the government has not done anything. It has not shown any response to the court of law and law of the land, but at the same time they are calling (on) us to be peaceful.

“We have been peaceful since last three decades; we have been peaceful in this country (but) they have been killing us. The reason why we are here is to let the masses know that this government is not ready to free our leader.

“He is an innocent person who has been in detention since last year. So let the people know that the government is not ready to free him despite the court order and that is why we choose to come to the human rights commission because the right of our leader is being violated,” Musa said.

The acting secretary of NHRC, Mrs Oti Ovrawah, commended the group for the peaceful demonstration.

She assured them that the commission would intervene in the matter as soon as possible.

“We are receiving your complaints now and the work of the commission is to pass your complaints and advice the government accordingly.

“We have heard your complaints here (and) we are going to do the needful. We are going to advise the government accordingly in line with your complaints,” Mrs Ovrawah assured the Shiites.

El-Zakzaky: Protest In Abuja Over Court Judgement

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A group of protesters stormed the Abuja division of the Federal High Court  against the judgement  of Justice Gabriel Kolawole that the detained leader of the Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky be released unconditionally.
Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition on Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI), they aggrieved protesters condemned the judgement describing as  “a dangerous precedence would have on law enforcement, security, anti-terror fight, terrorism, extremism and secessionist movements in Nigeria.”
 National Chairman of the group, Okpokwu Ogenyi, said the judiciary has dealt a fresh blow to the future of Nigeria by legalizing terrorism while leaving the rest of the people at risk of losing our lives.
Ogenyi who described  the judgement as ridiculous, wondered how the judge could order the release of a person believed to be a security risk to the society through his extreme brand of foreign-backed Islamic radicalization programme.
“Nigerians are ever ready to do the needful in safeguarding the future of our dear nation and hence would demand that Justice Kolawole be investigated by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
This could have only been in keeping with fulfilling obligations entered into for less than honourable considerations even as we cannot rule out a judiciary that is taking its pound of flesh from an executive arm that has exposed the sleaze on its soiled bench.
“If the entire judiciary has activated its vendetta against the security agencies that they see as the executive arm, the precedence set by Justice Gabriel Kolawole took things to the ridiculous by awarding N50 million of tax payers’money to finance IMN’s radicalisation programme while also asking that the police further deploy its personnel to protect a man whose sect members would invariably kill like they had killed soldiers and policemen in recent past.
This judge also failed to realize the weight of his utterance that has basically ordered the government to build a new headquarters for a proscribed group – we do hope he will keep himself on the bench for when other terror groups approach to demand for the government to build them headquarters.
“The house demolished in Gyellesu, on which the directive to build a new one for this demagogue, originally belonged to Alhaji Ismail Gwarzo the DG NSO under late General Sani Abacha. El-Zakyzaky was given the seized house by Gen Abdulsalam because people of Babban Dodo had at time also rebelled against IMN occupation which made them to burn his initial hub after he was released from another arrest for insurrection.”
The group said Justice Kolawole had murdered sleep with his ruling adding that he did this confidently because security agencies under obligation use taxpayers’ money to protect him and other judges who do not know the magnitude of the threat that terrorism poses to citizens.

Shiite Members Protest Detention Of El-Zakzaky At National Assembly

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Members of the Shiite sect also known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, (IMN) on Thursday barricaded ?the National Assembly’s entrance protesting the continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Leader of the protesters and Secretary of the group’s Academic Forum in Nigeria, Mr Abdullahi Musa, told journalists that they came to the National Assembly to find out what the lawmakers were doing about the continued detention of El-Zakzaky.

He alleged that many of their members were recently killed in Kano but that government seemed to be indifferent, and would want to hear from the lawmakers what they intended to do.

According to him, the group is worried that, in spite of submitting several letters to the National Assembly, it is yet to get any reply, while their leader continues to be kept in detention.

“This is the third time we are coming here. We submitted a lot of documents to the National Assembly but we are yet to get any response.

“We submitted the third batch of documents yesterday and we came here today to hear from them,” he said.

He also said that members of the group were concerned about the safety of their leader and wanted to know the state of his health.

“We do not believe in the so-called protective custody. We want him freed so that he can go for his treatment. What we ask for is that justice prevails.

However, no lawmaker was available to listen to the Shiites protesters; instead, the divisional crime officer-in-charge of the National Assembly, Mr Francis Anebi, addressed them appealing to them to be orderly.

El-Zakzaky was arrested after the Shiite group was involved in a bloody clash with the Army in Zaria.

The group was accused of attacking the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai while they were on procession in Zaria.

Again, Group Gives FG 1-week Ultimatum To Release El-Zakzaky

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Again, group under the umbrella of Save Zakzaky’s life group of Nigeria has issued a one week ultimatum to the federal government to unconditionally release their leader Ibraheem El-Zakzaky from detention.

The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in DSS detention since December, 2015 following their clashes with the Nigerian Army.

According to the National coordinator of the group, Bashir Marafa, “We call on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to release Sheikh Zakzaky who has been unjustly in detention without trial for the past nine month unconditionally.

“No doubt, Save Zakzaky’s life group of Nigeria, with the supports and aspirations of millions of Zakzaky’s followers within Nigeria and beyond, are greatly concerned over the deteriorating health condition of our great leader Zakzaky, who has been denied access to seek for good medical care, while he is being detained with no reason whatsoever, except what we see as “great oppression”, and denying his fundamental human right as a Nigerian citizen, by the Buhari administration.

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http://leadership.ng/news/552149/el-zakzakys-release-group-gives-fg-1-week-ultimatum

Shiites Warn Of Dire Consequences Of Continuous Detention Of El-Zakzaky

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The Islamic Movement in Nigeria ( IMN), also known as Shiites, has warned of the consequences of the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

El-Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since December last year following a clash between the Shiites and the Nigerian army in Zaria, Kaduna state.

The judicial commission of inquiry set up by the Kaduna state government to investigate the clash had in its report blamed Zakzaky for the incident which led to the loss of many lives and recommended that he be investigated and prosecuted.

The Islamic group in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna, demanded for the unconditional release of Zakzaky, warning that it will be a tragedy of monumental proportion if the Islamic leader who is said to have sustained eye injury goes blind.

“We demand that our Leader and the wife must be released unconditionally without delay. It will be a tragedy of monumental proportions should our leader go blind in detention or suffer further physical disability due to him being denied access to adequate medical attention” the statement declared.

The statement signed by Ibrahim Musa, the President of the Media Forum of the IMN also alleged that those that are keeping Zakzaky in detention were doing so to humiliate him and make sure that he goes completely blind and render him powerless before releasing him.

The IMN said “We understand those that sanctioned his detention and those detaining him want to humiliate him and make sure that he goes completely blind before he is eventually released thereby rendering him powerless the moment he is released from unconstitutional and illegal detention.

“The health of our leader and the wife continues to deteriorate on a daily basis and those holding him in custody are playing politics with his detention and that of his wife.

“We urge the Nigerian people and the international community to intervene in this crude violation of the fundamental rights of our leader. The Nigerian constitution and laws do not sanction detention without trial.

“We still insist that our leader should be taken to court if those holding him believe that he has committed any offence known to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, otherwise he must be released forthwith”.

Musa said, as a peaceful organization the IMN has been demanding for the release of Zakzaky and his wife from detention through all known peaceful and legitimate means, but rather than release them , “the Department of State Services (DSS) claimed that the our leader was being held in protective custody”.

Read More: ThisdayLive

Kaduna Judicial Panel Recommends Prosecution Of Soldiers, El-Zakzaky

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The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government to investigate the December 12-14, 2015 clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiite or Shia sect, has indicted the leader of the group, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, for alleged acts of lawlessness by his members.

The 13-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal, in its reported submitted recently to Governor Nasir el-Rufai which was made public in Kaduna Sunday night, said El-Zakzaky and his members should be held responsible for the bloody clash with the Nigerian Army last December, which led to the deaths of 349 people, including one soldier.

The report also accused the Nigerian Army of “disproportionate use of force contrary to its rules of engagement”, declaring that soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army who were involved in the killing of 348 members of the Shiite sect should be prosecuted.

The panel’s findings contained in the report said 349 people – including one soldier – were killed. “Out of the said 349 dead persons, 347 (excluding the soldier) were buried in a mass grave,” said the report.

The commission said it had received 3,578 memoranda – 132 letters and 3,446 emails – along with 39 exhibits and 87 witnesses’ testimonies in the course of the inquiry and the writing of the 193-page report.

“Members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. He therefore bears responsibility for all acts of lawlessness committed by the organisation and should therefore be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted,” the panel said in its report.

Members of the sect and the army clashed in the Zaria when the latter blocked a major highway during one of its religious processions, in the process blocking access to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was attending the passing out parade of the army depot in the area on December 12, 2015.

The commission noted that “the number of casualities recorded during the incident was too high and cannot be justified”, stressing that “members of the Nigerian Army found to have been involved in the killings should be brought to trial before a court of competent jurisdiction”.

The panel also recommended that members of the IMN found to have been involved in the killing of one army corporal, Dan Kaduna Yakubu, during the incident should also be prosecuted.
It also advised the Nigerian Army to “intensify efforts in ensuring compliance with the rules of engagement and other legal standards” at all times during operations.

The panel in the report also challenged the government and law enforcement agencies to be alive to their responsibilities by investigating all persons allegedly breaking the law, even when such persons belong to powerful religious groups.

Credit: Punch

Shi’ite Chief, El-Zakzaky, Terrorized Zaria- Emirate

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The Zazzau Emirate Development Association (ZEDA) yesterday testified against the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called the Shi’ite.

It said the movement terrorised the emirate for years.

Spokesman for ZEDA Mohammed Balarabe, who appeared before the Judicial Commission of Enquiry in Kaduna, narrated how the movement terrorised the emirate.

He said the group took the law into its hands and shut roads while holding processions.

Balarabe said whenever the movement had outings, they (people of Zaria emirate) were forced to stay indoors.

He said the last December 12 clash between the IMN and the Army was not the first, noting that the group is violent.

The ZEDA spokesman cited instances when the body had encounters with the Emir of Zaria, Alhaji Shehu Idris and ex-Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

He recalled that the movement had encounters with previous administrations.

Balarabe said the Shi’ite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his followers were not members of ZEDA, adding that they refused to register with the association.

Said he: “We are familiar with the movement’s actions in the 20 years of its existence. As someone who attended the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, we know where the shoe pinches.

“Whenever we heard they had outings, we stayed away because it would bring hardship. They shut roads.”

Credit: Nation

Shiites Lament Inability To Access El-Zakzaky

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Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, have raised alarm that they are being frustrated by the DSS and Police to have access to their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

This they said has prevented them from submitting their memorandum to the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the bloody clash between them and the Nigerian Army in Zaria on December 12, 2015.

At the resumed sitting of the commission on Monday, counsel to the movement, Festus Okoye, told the commission that all efforts by the Shiites’ legal team or its members to have access to El-Zakzaky were unsuccessful in spite of several meetings they had with the DSS and Police authorities in Abuja.

He attributed the delay by the group to submit its memorandum to the commission to inability of the members to meet with their leader who is believed to be in custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the Federal Capital Territory.

On his part, counsel to the Commission, Yusuf Ali (SAN), ?asked the commission to order the Attorney General of Kaduna State and the Attorney General of the Federation to liaise with him to see how they can have access to El-Zakzaky and get briefings from him.

Credit: ChannelsTv

El-Zakzaky Flown To France For Treatment, Back To Abuja

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The embattled leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, was flown out of Nigeria for treatment of gun shot injuries he suffered during the encounter between his supporters and members of the Nigerian Army last year.

 
It will be recalled that during the bloody encounter between the Shiites and the Nigerian Army, several members of the sect were killed, while many others sustained various degrees of injuries with some still on admission at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika near Zaria.

 

 

The fracas occurred when members of the sect allegedly blocked the Zaria-Sokoto road and prevented the convoy of the Chief of Army staff from passing through, despite several entreaties.

 

 

Sheikh El-Zakzaky allegedly sustained several gun shot wounds, with some reports claiming that one of his eyes was affected during the encounter.

 

 

Since the clash between the sect and the military, his whereabouts have been shrouded in secrecy until it was revealed that he was moved from Kaduna to a safe house in Abuja belonging to one of the security services.

 

 

Several security sources who are knowledgeable in the matter, however, revealed to Vanguard yesterday that due to the seriousness of the injuries the Shiite leader sustained, he was secretly flown to France by the Nigerian government some weeks ago for treatment before being returned to the country two weeks ago.

 

 

One of the sources said: “It is true that the federal government flew him out of the country for treatment. He was stabilized before he was brought back to Nigeria. The government did not want to take chances by keeping him in the country. We did not want a repeat of the incidenct with the late leader of the Boko Haram movement whose death in custody exacerbated the crisis in the North East.”

 

 

Another source explained that the decision to fly El Zakzaky out of the country followed intervention by highly placed Nigerians, including the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who warned that allowing the Shiite leader to die in custody would have grave implications for the security of the country.

 

 

Spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed to Vanguard that members of the NSCIA committee confirmed to the IMN that their leader was alive, after being treated for gun shot injuries in France and was recuperating in Abuja.