Tag Archives: unlawful

Kaduna State declares Zakzaky’s IMN an unlawful society.

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The Kaduna State Government, on Wednesday, officially released the Gazette on Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), declaring the group unlawful.

The government disclosed that it did not and cannot ban any religion, but that it has a duty to declare unlawful any group that threatens the peace and security of the state.

Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said government upholds religious freedoms
and all constitutional rights of every resident to practice the religion of their choice.

He noted that it was the fundamental obligation of government to preserve security and uphold the rights of all citizens to practice their faith and not be imperiled or be distressed by the way others exercise their faith.

It would be recalled that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry chaired by Justice Muhammed Lawal Garba, along Prof. Auwalu Yadudu,Special Adviser on Legal matters under late Gen.Sani Abacha, Prof.Ibrahim
Gambari,former minister of Foreign Affairs, Afakriya Gadzama,former Director General State Security Service among others recommended the
proscription of IMN.

Aruwan stressed, “It solemnly declared unlawful a specific group that continues to threaten public order in the state. The IMN was never a registered organization and it refused to conduct itself with
full adherence to the laws of this state.”

He added that IMN ignored the law and neglected the obligations of civility.

According to him, “Other groups in the Shi’ite tradition are active in Nigeria. Like adherents of all other faiths, they are free to practice their creed without injuring the rights of others.

“Kaduna state has suffered and endured too many calamities, triggered by persons and groups that insist on foisting their faith or political
preferences on others. It is a hallmark of civilization that every assertion of rights by a citizen is done with full acknowledgement of, and respect for the rights of other citizens.”

Speaking on the released of the gazette, Aruwan said, “Kaduna State Gazette No.21 of 7th October 2016 has declared the IMN an unlawful
society.

The Gazette noted, “The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clashes between the group with the appellation, Islamic Movement in Nigenria, IMN, and the Nigerian Army in Zaria between Saturday 12th and Monday 14th December 2015,found as facts inter alia that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is an unregistered society and recommended that immediate steps be taken by the Kaduna State Government to proscribe it.

“The members of the movement have over the years engaged in acts of aggression and violence against individuals and communities resulting in clashes with security agencies which culminated in the recent deaths of at least 347 persons.

“The movement has constituted itself into a parallel government with a uniformed paramilitary wing in complete disregard to the constitution and laws of Nigeria.

“The movement has overtly continued with unlawful processions, obstruction of public highways, unauthorized occupation of public facilities including schools without regard to the rights of other citizens and public peace and order of the state.”

Aruwan added, “Gentlemen of the press, these are the facts. There is a common law in Nigeria, and it serves to protect everyone. The law courts are the appropriate platform for any citizen to challenge any legislation or order they consider improper. No citizen or group of persons can decide to disobey a valid law, without expecting that law
enforcement will do its work.

“We have warned that mob action will not be permitted under any guise.The duty of every citizen is to report every illegal action or suspicious activity to the security agencies.”

100 Soldiers Protest Unlawful Dismissal From Army

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About 100 soldiers who were allegedly dismissed by the Nigerian Army last year for losing their weapons and operational base to Boko Haram insurgents in the North East on Wednesday protested their dismissal from the army.

The soldiers are demanding that the Nigerian Army obey the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari for their reinstatement since August 2015.

They also complained of not receiving their salaries since July last year, a situation they say has brought untold hardship to them and their families.

Some of them told journalists that their travails started after they were thoroughly scrutinized in September 2015 by an army investigative board led by the General Officer Commanding One Division, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, and thereafter transferred to the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) in Kontagora, Niger state for a pre-reposting training.

After the training, the soldiers said their names were omitted in the list of the over 3,000 that were re-instated, adding that nobody has been able to explain to them the reason for the omission.

Presently, they alleged that their families as well as personal property have been thrown out of the barrack following their dismissal.

The aggrieved soldiers, who said they were unjustly dismissed without any known offence and without the benefit of fair hearing are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukut Buratai, to intervene in the matter with a view to reinstating them.

The soldiers say they are willing and ready to serve the Nigerian Army and the country again if they are re-instated.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Freezing of Tompolo’s accounts barbaric, unlawful, Ijaw group tells FG

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Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, a nongovernmental organization in Delta State, on Tuesday criticized the freezing of accounts of two companies allegedly owned by ex-Niger militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as an act of lawlessness.

 

IPDI in a statement by the national president, Mr. Austin Ozobo, contended that the federal government duly awarded contracts to the companies and Tompolo neither breached the contracts nor abandoned them to warrant freezing of the accounts.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, reportedly froze the accounts of Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessels Limited, purportedly linked with fraudulent activity in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under its ex-director general, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.

 

The group, however, stated, “The freezing of Tompolo’s accounts by the federal government is barbaric, unlawful and obnoxious because Tompolo is not under any investigation. As a matter of fact, Tompolo is not under any investigation; therefore, there is no reason for his accounts to be frozen.”

 

“Tompolo was just a contractor and the said contracts are ongoing, there was no case of abandonment of the said contracts. The contracts were legally awarded, there was no case of breach, the point is that Buhari should have respect for the law, he should maintain decorum,” it added.

IPDI said, “What is within the purview of the law is either execution or revocation of the contract and not freezing of the contractor’s account. Even in the case of contravention, the contractor has nothing to answer, except the institution that awarded the contract, what Buhari is doing is a witch hunt and declaration of war against the Niger-Delta people.”

 

-Vanguard