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Tag: Proscription

  • Miyetti Allah urges FG to ignore Ortom’s request for the proscription of the association.

    Miyetti Allah urges FG to ignore Ortom’s request for the proscription of the association.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on the Federal Government to ignore Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue’s request for the proscription of the association.

    The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    “We are not at all surprised at the recent call by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State for the proscription of our association (MACBAN) going by his antecedents,” he said.

    The scribe alleged that Ortom’s hatred for the Fulani was not in doubt, adding that “he has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is an unreliable leader.

    “Whose stock in trade is fanning the embers of hatred between peaceful Nigerians that have been living in peace for many centuries.

    “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to ignore this unpatriotic call by a wayward Governor who is hell bend on putting this country into unnecessary crisis,” Ngelzarma said.

    The national secretary said the association had contributed to peace building in Benue, adding that MACBAN spared no efforts in helping the good people of the state to live in peace with the pastoralists.

    “MACBAN is not and will never be a terrorist organisation.

    “We are fully registered with the regulatory agencies with clear vision and mission to foster peaceful coexistence to our teeming members as well as serving humanity positively.”

    Ngelzarma however advised Ortom to “concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Benue” instead of chasing phantom shadows.

  • IGP confirms proscription of Shiites movement in Nigeria

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has confirmed the proscription of Shiite group, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by the federal government following deadly protests in the Abuja.
    Tensions continued to rise as Shiite group protested in Abuja, calling for the release of its leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky. The deadly protests have claimed the lives of at least six protesters, a journalist, and a senior police officer.
    Adamu, during a press conference, on Tuesday said the Nigerian Government has officially banned the activities of Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Sheik Ibrahim Zakzaky in the country.
    Adamu was meeting with Senior Police Officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, in continuation of his management tradition to constantly engage strategic managers across all commands in the Police Force.
    The presidency in a statement yesterday clarified that the proscription of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) does not translate into banning the larger numbers of peaceful and law-abiding Shiites in the country from practicing their religion.
    According to Senior Special Assitant on Media to President, Garba Shehu, the move was to discourage wanton violence, murder and willful destruction of public and private property.
    The IMN leader, Zakzaky has been in detention since December 2015 after violence during a religious procession in Kaduna State.

  • Bloody protests: MURIC endorses proscription of Shiites

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has endorsed the proscription of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites by the Federal Government.
    In a statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said the government action was imperative and decisive owing to Shiites’ violent disposition and disrespect to constitutional authority.
    “MURIC recognises the right of Shiites to practice their faith but strictly within recognised rules of engagement. Shiites must respect Allah-given fundamental rights of their neighbours.
    “They must genuinely renounce violence and pledge to stop the harassment of other citizens, review their revolutionary tenets particularly that which refuses to recognise federal and state governments.
    “It is treasonable to vehemently persist that they will only recognise an Islamic government based on Shiite ideology alone,’’ MURIC said.
    The group said that Boko Haram would not have festered so badly had former President Goodluck Jonathan promptly taken decisive action against their excesses.
    MURIC which had earlier suggested dialogue for amicable settlement of the Shiites issue said it reviewed its position following certain developments.
    “It will be recalled that we suggested that FG should initiate dialogue with the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim community and leaders of IMN in order to find an amicable settlement for the Shiite imbroglio.
    “But more revelations have since come to our attention in the last 48 hours.
    “For example, at least two Muslim neighbours of the Shiites came out openly and in writing to reveal stunning incidents of the use of violence by the group and their experiences date back to the 90s.
    “A major Islamic organisation which is based in the North, the Jamaatu Ikhmad al-Bid’ah wa Ihyais-Sunnah (JIBWIS) also issued a strong statement calling on FG not to handle the Shiites with soft gloves.
    “Most importantly, the testimonies have revealed a dangerous Shiite principle of non-recognition of either a federal or state government.

    “Based on these new developments, we have no other choice than to call on Nigerians to allow FG to handle the situation, particularly in the face of large scale insecurity in the country,’’ MURIC said.

    MURIC noted that the government had been accused of failure to take decisive action to stem the tide of insecurity.
    The Islamic group, therefore, enjoined members of the civil society and individuals defending the Shiites to look at the larger picture of events.
    It called on civil society to ponder over Shiite ideology which rejects the federal constitution, all constituted authority within the country including traditional rulers.
    The group also called on the Iranian government to desist from interfering in the internal affairs of Nigeria, contending that they do not have moral right to dictate to the country on how to handle Shiite excesses.
    “We exist simply to project, promote and protect the rights of all adherents of Islam and reject those who smear the image of Islam, kill, maim followers of other religions and their fellow Muslims.
    `We recognise the authority of the federal government as well as those of state governments and we will not associate with those who seek to render asunder the sovereignty of our great country, Nigeria,’’ MURIC said.
    The Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the proscription of the Shi’ites’ movement as protests by the Islamic organisation rock Abuja.
    Justice Nkeonye Maha issued the order in a ruling in which she also designated the activities of the Shiite organisation in any part of Nigeria “as acts of terrorism and illegality.”

  • Presidency justifies proscription of IMN

    Presidency justifies proscription of IMN

    Presidency says proscription of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has nothing to do with banning the larger numbers of peaceful and law abiding Shi’ites in the country from practicing their religion.
    A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in Abuja on Sunday, however, said the banning was to discourage wanton violence, murder and willful destruction of public and private property.
    Shehu explained that contrary to the claim by IMN that it had been banned from practicing its religion, the Buhari administration had not banned Shiites from observing their five daily prayers and going to Mecca to perform the Holy pilgrimage.
    According to him, their position is blatantly false and deceptive.
    ”The IMN is deliberately changing the narrative in order to gain sympathy and divert the attention of the world from its terrorist activities, including attacking soldiers, killing policemen and a youth corps member, destroying government ambulances and public property, consistently defying authority of the state.
    ”The Presidency notes that the banned organization was taken over by extremists who didn’t believe in peaceful protests and instead employed violence and arson, driving fear and undermining the rights of others and constituted authority.
    ”The Presidency agrees that the constitution protects freedom of worship, but not to the detriment of the society, especially where such freedom harms others, and breaks law and order.
    ”The Presidency insists that such criminal behavior and disregard for rights of others and human life will not be tolerated by any responsible government,” Shehu added.
    According to him, everywhere in the world protesters operate within legal boundaries and conduct themselves peacefully without molesting others, or engaging in murder and killing of security personnel or destroying public and private property.
    He said the Presidency regretted that despite all efforts by the government and other well-meaning Nigerians to make the IMN militants to see reason and abandon violence was all in vain.
    He lamented that such appeals fell on deaf ears as ”they killed, maimed and destroyed willfully, constituting daily nuisance to workers, commuters and other innocent citizens.”
    Shehu said: ”Having defied appeals to operate peacefully, and given their seeming determination to destabilize the country, the government had to act before the situation goes out of control, after admonishing many times over that people should not use religion to perpetuate lawlessness.
    “We are fighting lawlessness and criminality and not pursuing a policy of discrimination against any group.
    “You cannot be in court while at the same time engaging in violent protests, molesting people and inflicting pains on others, which includes taking innocent lives.”

  • El-Zakzaky: Human Rights group hail proscription of IMN as a terrorist organization

    El-Zakzaky: Human Rights group hail proscription of IMN as a terrorist organization

    The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has hailed the proscription of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as a terrorist organisation, describing it as a “relief to Nigerians”.
    The Federal Government, on Friday, obtained a court order to banish the Shiite organisation, following violent protests in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
    Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court Abuja issued the order in a ruling which designated the activities of the Shiite group in any part of Nigeria “as acts of terrorism and illegality.”
    In a statement signed by Helen Akanji, Director of Research, on Saturday, the Human Right group welcomed the judgement and urged the president to expedite the publication of the order.
    The group, however, appealed to the FG to immediately initiate a programme to rehabilitate IMN members that voluntarily renounce the group’s campaign of terror and commit to peaceful coexistence with other Nigerians.
    Read the full text below:
    Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) is pleased that the Federal Government has finally heeded its appeal and those of other conscientious individuals and groups to designate the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as a terrorist group.
    SHAC is even more pleased by the approach adopted by the Federal Government to properly approach a competent court to order the proscription of IMN, which is in accordance with extant legislation that concern terrorism.
    The ex parte order granted by Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, proscribing the activities of IMN in any part of the country, is a relief to millions of Nigerians that are being terrorised by members of the terrorist group across the country.
    While SHAC had always appealed to the Federal Government to follow in the steps of the Kaduna State government, which earlier outlawed the group on account of its being violent and militarised, the recent killing spree of police officers by IMN militants under the pretext of protesting the detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky, was a further reason to stop terrorism in its track.
    It is our belief that those who were misled to join the group and its violent protests, who are not far gone in being radicalized, can now be jolted back to reality and renounce all affiliations with IMN while seeking rehabilitation and reintegration into the contemporary society.
    To this end, SHAC is appealing to the Federal Government to immediately initiate a programme for rehabilitating IMN members that voluntarily renounce the group’s campaign of terror and commit to peaceful coexistence with other Nigerians. Such programme should include transport assistance to help return such repentant members to their original homes as SHAC has found out that many of them have become stranded in different cities far away from their homes having been misled and trafficked to protest cities and are now being used as protestors, sometimes against their will.
    Security agencies should exploit the ruling of the Federal High Court to go after IMN leaders that are still on the loose as these are the ones coordinating the killing of security personnel and ordering arson attacks on public infrastructure in line with the terrorist group’s disavowal of the Nigerian state. These IMN leaders should not be allowed to have time to direct further attacks against Nigeria.
    The law enforcement agencies should also ensure that the proscription of IMN is followed to the letter by ensuring that even those that give intellectual, propaganda and financial support to the terrorists are prosecuted on the strength of extant anti-terrorism legislation.
    Meanwhile, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite the publication of the order proscribing IMN as a terror group by immediately directing the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to do the needful once his cabinet is constituted.

  • El-Zakzaky: Falana, Ozekhome condemn proscription on Shiites, demand immediate withdrawal

    El-Zakzaky: Falana, Ozekhome condemn proscription on Shiites, demand immediate withdrawal

    Leading rights activists Chief Mike Ozekhome and Femi Falana, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, on Saturday described the proscription of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as illegal and immoral.
    While Ozekhome said the proscription was “discriminatory”, Falana, who represents IMN leader Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, urged the Federal Government to withdraw the order.
    Ozekhome said: “The proscription by the government of the Shiites religious group is highly discriminatory, unconstitutional, as was the case of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
    “What group could be more terrorist than the Herdsmen that has held Nigeria down by the jugular for years, killing, maiming, burning, raping, turning Nigeria into a crimson field of bloodbath? Until the government bans and outlaws these, it is certainly not serious.
    “They (Shiite members) are demanding the release of their leader still kept in government dungeon inspite of several court orders. The Shiite group is a religious group, like the President’s Sunni group. It is not an association that could be banned.
    “Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution makes Nigeria a secular state. You cannot ban religion, a people’s belief.
    “There is also freedom of thought, conscience and religion in Section 38, while sections 40 and 41 allow for freedom of movement and association.
    “The Constitution is ruthlessly being shredded by an intolerant and overbearing civilian dictatorship.”
    For Falana, the proscription is immoral and illegal.
    He noted that the IMN’s proscription by the Kaduna State government in 2016 was gazette, yet IMN has continued to operate in defiance of the proscription.
    Similarly, he said IPOB’s proscription in 2017 by the Buhari regime via an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court was also gazette, but IPOB has continued to operate in spite of the proscription.
    “However, in a desperate bid to prevent the Shiitesfrom demanding for the release of their detained leader, Elzakzaky and his wife from the custody of the State Security Service, the Buhari administration has proscribed the IMN.
    “Since there are millions of Shiites who belong to the IMN, the Federal Government will soon realise that it has merely driven the body underground,” Falana said.
    The respected activist-lawyer recalled that in 2003, General Buhari and other members of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) held a rally in Kano to protest the rigging of the 2003 General Election.
    The rally was violently attacked by the Police on the ground that the ANPP leaders did not obtain police permit.
    “On the instructions of General Buhari and other the ANPP leaders, I challenged the disruption of the rally and the legal validity of police permit for rallies and political meetings at the Federal High Court. ANPP won the case.
    “Apart from condemning the violent disruption of the rally by the Police, the court declared that police permit for rallies was illegal and unconstitutional. The appeal filed against the judgment by the Police was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
    “In fact, the Justices of the Court of Appeal unanimously held that the right of Nigerians to protest against the policies of the government is part of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
    “Therefore, the proscription of the IMN for the demonstrations of the Shiites against the disobedience of court orders by the Buhari regime is immoral and illegal in every material particular,” he said.
    Falana called for the withdrawal of the proscription order.
    “It is particularly opportunistic on the part of the Sunnis occupying public offices to use the instrumentality of the state to liquidate the Shiites.
    “The illegal proscription of the IMN should be withdrawn. It will not stand as the fundamental right of the Shiites to freedom of religion is constitutionally guaranteed,” Falana added.

  • Biafra: IPOB appeals proscription order

    The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked the Court of Appeal to upturn its proscription and declaration as a terrorist organisation.

    Recall that Justice Adamu Kafarati of the Federal High Court on September 22, 2017, made the order while ruling on an ex parte application by Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    On January 18, Justice Kafarati rejected a motion by IPOB, seeking among others, the reversal of the order.

    In an appeal filed yesterday by its lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor, IPOB urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the entire decision by the Federal High Court, including the order proscribing it and declaring it a terrorist group.

    The group, in the appeal in which it raised five grounds, argued that the mandatory statutory condition requiring the President’s approval, under Section 2 (1) (C) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, was not met.

    It also argued that the memo purportedly giving an approval to the AGF’s request for the proscription of IPOB was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, instead of President Muhammadu Buhari himself as stipulated by law.

    IPOB argued that “the trial judge erred in law, when he ruled that the mandatory statutory condition requiring president’s approval, under Section 2 (1) (C) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, was satisfied, on the authority of the Memo of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to the President dated September 15, 2017, thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice.”

    It stated that: “A cursory look at the Memo of the Attorney General of the Federation dated 15th day of September 2017, addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, being relied upon or referred to by the learned trial judge, as constituting the mandatory President’s approval granted before an application Exparte for the proscription of the appellant’s activities and its designation as terrorist organisation, was made to the court, shows that it is a mere memo from the Attorney General of the Federation to the President requesting for the said President’s approval, prescribed under Section 2 (1)(C) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, and not the mandatory President’s approval envisaged under the Act.

    “The purported President’s approval dated the September 18, 2017 addressed to the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, captioned “Approval of the President, Commander-In-chief of the Armed Forces for the declaration/proscription of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a Terrorist Organization pursuant to section 2(I) (A) (B) & (C) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013”, was signed by ABBA KYARI, designated as Chief of Staff to the President, and was not signed by the President as required under Section 2 (1)(C) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.

    “Under Section 40 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, which deals with the interpretation of words or phrases, the word “President” as used in the Act, refers and only means the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and acts specified under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act to be done by the President must be done by the President himself, the Act does not provide for this specialised power to be delegated to any officer, staff or personnel of the President to act, on behalf of the President.

    “The important condition that the President will have to give his approval was neither satisfied by the Attorney General’s memo of September 15, 2017 nor corrected by the purported approval signed by the Chief of Staff to the President.

    “There was no valid approval given by the President in the Memo, in satisfaction of the mandatory requirement under section 2 (1)(C) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”

    The appellant argued in the second ground of appeal that “the learned trial judge erred in law, when upon his formulation of issues arising for determination in the ruling delivered on the January 18, 2018, and in consideration therefore, arrived on findings of facts that were grossly faulted by non-evaluation of affidavit evidence placed before the court, and recondite issues of law set out for the trial court’s determination, by the appellant; thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice.”

  • We are unknown to law, proscription order cannot stand – IPOB

    The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday has said it is an unknown entity to law and the recently proscribed order by the military cannot stand.

    The group, therefore, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside the orders proscribing it and designating it as a terrorist group.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, had, on Wednesday, issued the proscription order upon an ex parte application by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami.

    But in a motion filed by IPOB’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, before the same judge on Friday, the group contended that the proscription order was unconstitutional.

    The motion was anchored on 13 grounds, first of which was that the proscription order was made without jurisdiction, “as the order was granted against an entity unknown to law.”

    The grounds of the application read in part, “That the ex parte order made on the 20th day of September 2017 by this Honorable Court was made without jurisdiction, as the order was granted against an entity unknown to law.

    “That there is a clear suppression and misrepresentation of facts in the Attorney General’s Affidavit evidence, pursuance to which the Order was granted.

    “That the Order is unconstitutional, as it was made in clear violation of the constitutionally guaranteed right of the Indigenous People of Biafra to self determination; Article 20(1) of the Africa Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, now domesticated into our Law under (Ratification and Enforcement Act) (Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990; Right to fair hearing, Right to freedoms of expression, and the press and Rights to peaceful Assembly and Association; clearly provided for under Sections 36, 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as (Amended) 2011.

    “That a declaratory order cannot be made pursuant to an ex parte Application, without hearing from the party against whom the order was made.

    “The Indigenous People of Biafra who are majorly of Igbo extraction, have no history of violence in the exercise of their right to self determination.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki also recently declared the proscription of the group as unconstitutional.

  • Proscription: IPOB blasts FG, Army, S/E Govs, says ‘You can’t intimidate us’

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday said that no intimidation or harassment from any quarter will make it neglect its demand for independence from Nigeria.

    The group described its proscription by the Southeast governors and the declaration of it as a terrorist organisation by the Defence Headquarters as actions that could not stand.

    IPOB said a referendum to determine a sovereign state of Biafra would compensate the people.

    In a statement yesterday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, said it wondered why herdsmen that had several times caused havoc in various parts of the country had not been declared a terrorist organisation.

    IPOB said: “It is also on record that till date, no police commissioner or governor in the South East or South South has dared to rise up against the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world we know as Fulani herdsmen.

    “When Fulani herdsmen attacked Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia states, none of the police commissioners in these various states or any of these governors now supporting genocide against their people ever uttered a word in opposition.

    “82 Division of the Nigerian Army at Enugu, a mere 13 kilometers from where Fulani herdsmen armed with sophisticated weaponry attacked innocent villagers, did not rise up to aid Enugu people.

    “They did not storm the hideout or known settlements of Fulani herdsmen in Enugu. There was no stop and search of Fulani people. There were no arbitrary arrests of Fulani men. Fulani women were not carted off to be raped and dehumanised by Nigerian soldiers.

    “Fulani leaders and Arewa North never rose up in condemnation of Fulani herdsmen.

    “We must not stop to let the police and Nigeria DHQ know that Biafra restoration project, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, cannot be moved or deterred by any threats or killing of unarmed innocent civilian populations.

    “We also want to let them understand that they don’t have the power to declare the peaceful and nonviolent IPOB a terrorist organisation.

    “It is unfortunate that the Nigerian police and DHQ cannot differentiate between freedom fighting and terrorism yet most of them claim they are graduates.”

    “Every right thinking person must continue to ask South East governors why they allowed envy and jealousy to overwhelm them to the point of inviting an entirely foreign army full of Hausa Fulani men to come to our land to kill us because they lost the masses to IPOB”

    “The ranting of some of the cowardly governors of South East zone, especially Willie Obiano and Okezie Ikpeazu, to the effect that they will continue to kill innocent unarmed people fighting for their freedom in a peaceful manner but swore to protect the children of his slave masters in the North, is meaningless to us.”

    “IPOB is not in the habit of attacking anybody or group of persons and will never do anything to bring harm to non-indigenous Biafrans residing in Biafraland. We are civilised people and not as blood thirsty as the Arewa North.”

    “We will not fail to remind the Southeast governors that they have lost the battle with IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, especially Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

    “IPOB cannot and will not succumb to pressure resulting from intimidation, arrest and brutal murders going on now all over Abia, Anambra and Rivers states at the moment.

    “We have gone too far ahead to be bothered by the sound of bullets, bombs and fighter jets waiting to rain bombs on us. Nobody can stop the agitation for Biafra freedom at this point in time, only a referendum can do that.

    “We are putting our people and the entire world on notice that we are not relenting until this or any other Nigerian government and her cabals give us a date for referendum.”

    “Every family member of IPOB is advised to be patient because we are at the stage of last fight against the internal forces of darkness that have held us hostage for generations against our will.”