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.
Tag: shiites
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El-Zakzaky: Falana, Ozekhome condemn proscription on Shiites, demand immediate withdrawal
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FG obtains court order declaring Shiites terrorist group
The Federal Government has finally obtained a court order declaring the Shiites sect as a terrorist organisation.
TNG reports that consequent upon this development, the federal government is now legally empowered to proscribe activities of the Shiites group, also known as the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday had earlier ordered the proscription of the Shiites’ 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.”
The court restrained “any person or group of persons” from participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the IMN “under any name or platform” in Nigeria.
To complete the process of the proscription of the group, the court ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation “to publish the order proscribing the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in the official gazette and two national dailies.”
The judge gave the order following an ex parte application by the Federal Government.
A copy of the ex parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2019 which was obtained by TNG was filed in the name of the ‘Attorney-General of the Federation.’
Justice Maha granted the four prayers contained in the application shortly after the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, argued the application on Friday.
The IMN was the sole respondent to the application but the group was not represented by a lawyer on Friday since it was an ex parte hearing.
Ruling on Friday, the court made “a declaration that the activities of the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in any part of Nigeria amounts to acts of terrorism and illegality.”
The court said, “An order of this honourable court proscribing the existence and activities of the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in any part of Nigeria, under whatever form or guise either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called.
“An order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) under any other name or platform howsoever called or described in any part of Nigeria.
“An order directing the applicant (the AGF) to publish the order proscribing the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in the official gazette and two national dailies.”
The Federal Government had filed the application before the court on Thursday, barely 72 hours after a protest by members of the group in Abuja led to a bloody clash between them and the police.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Federal Capital Territory Command, Usman Umar, and a Channels Television journalist, Precious Owolabi, died in the clash with many others injured and property destroyed. -
Shi’ites protest: Channels Reporter, Precious Owolabi for burial Thursday
Remains of the Channels Reporter, Precious Owolabi who was shot dead during the Monday protest by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), is to be buried in Zaria on Thursday.
Corpse of the 23 years old corp member was sent to his parents in Zaria, Kaduna State on Wednesday.
The corpse was immediately moved to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Mortuary.
Parents of the late Precious, Mr. and Mrs. Owolabi were still in shock and could not talk to the press as at the time of filling this report.
A source close to the family however revealed that he will be buried tomorrow (Thursday) -
Bloody Protests: Rowdy session as reps debate Shiites leader's release
From Jonas Ike, Abuja
The 360 Members of the House of Representatives were on Tuesday divided on the propriety and otherwise of the release of the Leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shiites Sheik Ibrahim Elzakzaky.This followed the rejection of a motion by Hon. Shamsudden Bello representing Sumaila/Taka Federal Constituency of Kano State on the matter on the floor of the House by the lawmakers.Bello while debating the motion noted that with concerns the act of terrorism on Monday July 22, 2019 by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) within the Federal Capital Territory FCT that destabilized political, constitutional, economic and social structures or the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday.He further noted that several other dates before now, members if Shiite have done and threatened to do an act preparatory to and or in furtherance of an act of terrorism including destroying of public utilities and attack on security personnel.He pointed out that this act seriously intimidates the population of Abuja as well as it’s environment ns and also damages or intends to damage the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation.He added that there is need to direct the Inspector-General General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu to initiate the proscription of the INM and declare their existence unlawful in Nigeria.He said: “the continuous violent protest by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) negates the corporate existence of Nigeria”.The lawmaker therefore urged the House to constitute and Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the matter and added that it should offet appropriate measures to address this menace in one week.Other lawmaker notably Hon. Adeniyi Olajide (Oyo, PDP), Hon.Oniofon Luke (Akwa-Ibom, PDP) and Hon Francis Agbo (Benue, PDP) also spoke in support of the motion notice the existence of the Shiites is exacerbating the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.Oniofon amended the motion to the effect that the House leadership should invite the Security Chiefs to interface with them with a view to addressing the issue.Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to a voice vote and the lawmakers voted against it.The House immediately went rowdy as those calling on the Federal Government to release the Islamic leader rejected it.Gbajabiamila however asked that the House should divide into two groups of pro and anti lawmakers against the motion.On this premise, the House immediately dissolved into an 1/2 hour executive session of the lawmakers to address this lingering security issue. -
JUST IN: Shi’ites deny killing DCP Musa, Channels TV reporter
Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites have denied being responsible for the murder of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the FCT, DCP Usman Musa and the Channels Television reporter, Precious Owolabi.
The Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky led group of the Shi’ites Islamic sect however said that, the victims may have been victims of ‘friendly fire’.
The IMN in a statement issued by the President of its Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa stated categorically that, Owolabi’s death was a clear case of falling victim to a shooting spree embarked upon by the police during the protest.
The Shi’ites claimed that, members of the movement do not carry weapons, so they could not have been responsible for the senior policeman and the reporter’s death.
According to the statement, “Yesterday the Nigeria police force headquarters issued a press statement in which it ascribed the death of DCP Usman A.K Umar in particular to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria under the leadership of the illegally detained Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. We vehemently condemn such insinuation which we believe was done in bad taste to once again tarnish our hard earned credit as the only non-violent Movement in the country.
“A quick analysis of images and video clips showed that the Free Zakzaky procession was peacefully progressing prior to the brutal crackdown. It also clearly showed that the protesters weren’t bearing arms as usual and traffic was moving smoothly without hindrance.
“Furthermore, the images also showed the police, armed to the teeth, were intent on stopping the movement of the protesters, at all cost. Few other policemen and plain cloth security agents were seen piling used tyres for use to set bonfires. By the time the police struck, about a dozen members of the Islamic Movement had been killed. The police were seen picking the corpses to an undisclosed location, perhaps for mass burial.
“Also shot were the Channels TV reporter, Precious Owolabi and their colleague, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, whom photographs showed, was struck from the back of his head with the bullet exit in front, an indication that he was a victim of friendly fire. It is a known fact among the intelligence community that you don’t retreat from a mob with your back turned against them. This is one of the tenets of crowd control for law enforcement agencies. As if to hide this fact, the late policeman was hurriedly buried without any form of postmortem examination, which would have revealed the source of the bullet.
“It seems the security agents strategically killed the Journalist to turn the media against us. They also killed the police officer to incite the security community against us and to stigmatize us. They are the ones with guns and they are the ones doing the shootings and also doing the killings, and then fraudulently lie to Nigerians that their victims are the violent ones!
“They are working hard to portray the Islamic Movement in Nigeria as a terrorist organization that is why they have started killing people in our name including our supporters. We decry such shameless play with people’s lives with reckless abandon.
“We therefore call on the federal government detaining our leader, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenah Ibrahim, preventing them from seeking proper medication, to toe the line of House of representatives that some weeks ago called on it to address the root cause of this needless spill of innocent blood, which is the contemptuous disregard of a federal high court order granting the Sheikh is freedom and fundamental human rights.
“Finally, on behalf of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, we wish to commiserate with the friends and families of those needlessly killed by this police brutality. In particular, our heartfelt condolences to the slain officer’s and the journalist’s families and the Channels Television as well,” It said. -
We lost 11 members, 30 injured – Shi’ites
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly branded as Shiites group has alleged that 11 of its members were killed in a clash with the police in Abuja.
It also claimed that 30 others were injured in the fracas.
It said out of those injured, the police went to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada and took them to unknown place.
The figures were contained in an update by the President of the Media Forum of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim Musa.
The statement did not provide the list of those killed and injured.
The statement said: “Abuja today (on Monday) yet again witnessed one of the worst cases of blatant trampling of the rights of citizens ever seen in the Federal Capital, when joint security forces consisting of both uniformed men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force and others in mufti, unleashed their fury on a Free Zakzaky protest by members of the Islamic Movement.
“The procession, attended by several thousands of persons, including very young children, the aged, women and the physically challenged, met with an extreme rage indicative of deep seated animosity the Nigerian authorities bear for the Movement.
“What actually happened was that the protesters started the procession from NITEL junction and on getting to federal secretariat the police cordoned off the road and started firing at them.
“A lot of people have been shot but for now we can only confirm 11 deaths, but several are injured, the figure for now stood at 30. Though we are aware of the fact that the security agents have been going around taking off those they killed from the streets.
“Even some seriously injured persons that were taken to Abuja University teaching Hospital Gwagwalada; the police went there and took away about 11 people they shot during the protest.
“We strongly dispute the claim by the police that the protesters shot at them because throughout our processions we have not been carrying any arms right from 2015 to date. It was also the police who shot at the Reporter of Channels TV, another indication that many innocent people were shot at by the police, including some of their own.
“In this era of social media the brutality displayed by the police today has been captured with some pictures showing the police setting up the bonfires and there are videos that captured the police carting away their victims”. -
UPDATED: Channels TV reporter, Owolabi shot during Shi’ites protest is dead
The Channels Television reporter shot at the scene of the clash between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shiites, and the police is dead.
His death was announced during the 10pm news bulletin of the station.
He was identified as Precious Owolabi, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The 23-year-old died of a gunshot wound he sustained while covering the clash between the police and the Shiite protesters on Monday in Abuja.
Reacting to the news of Owolabi’s death, the management and staff of Channels Television said they are greatly saddened by the untimely and unfortunate death of such a promising journalist.
They pray that God will grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, and avail his soul eternal rest.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, described the death of Precious Owolabi on Monday as one too many.
The NUJ in a statement Monday night expressed deep sadness over Owolabi’s death, stressing that it was another sad day for the journalism profession in Nigeria.
“The death of Precious Owolabi signifies how brutish and short life has become in Nigeria and signposts the danger faced by journalists daily in carrying out the constitutional mandate of holding government and its officials accountable to Nigerians,” a statement by Emmanuel Ogbeche, chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, read.
According to Ogbeche, the federal government should take responsibility for the senseless death of Owolabi as it was its constitutional duty to safeguard his welfare and security as well as those of other Nigerians.
He called on the federal government to demonstrate its seriousness in addressing the pervading insecurity by finding an amicable resolution to the grievances of the IMN to avoid further needless deaths in the country.
The NUJ chairman said that while death was inevitable, journalists should always take into account the environment they were reporting from and not become the ‘story.’
Ogbeche expressed the hope that the government will compensate the family of the deceased who was on a national assignment.
The NUJ prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest while condoling with his family, Channels TV and journalists in general. -
Bloody Protests: Let Court decide El-Zakzaky’s fate, Presidency tells Shi’ite members
The Presidency has appealed to El-Zakzaky-led Shiite members to desist from needless violent, street protests and await the decision of the court in Kaduna where their leader is currently being tried.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Friday, the issue of El-ZakZaky is before the court in Kaduna and his supporters should focus on his ongoing trial instead of causing daily damages, disruptions and public nuisance in Abuja.
“It is wrong to be in court and resort to violence at the same time in order to get justice for anybody accused.
“The destruction of public property in the name of protest is not within the right of this group of Shiite members.
“And no government anywhere would have tolerated a situation where any group would take over public roads in cities as they have done in Abuja and interfere with the rights of other citizens who are prevented from reaching their destinations.
“We imagine a situation where families are taking their loved ones to hospital for emergency treatment and they are held up needlessly by the protesters. No government anywhere in the world would turn a blind eye to this unlawful behavior,’’ he added.
Shehu maintained that the case involving El-zakzaky was no longer in government domain, stressing that the federal government no more has hands in the matter.
“As far as this country’s Ministry of Justice is concerned, the case involving El-Zakzaky is no longer in its domain.
“The Federal Government no more has hands in the matter and to that extent, the government at the centre can be said to be clear of any alleged violations of court orders as being trumpeted everyday.
“These rallies and street dances ostensibly to openly insult the President and other leaders, threatening bloodshed will lead nowhere because President Buhari will not ask the country’s judiciary to abandon due process and set a suspect free,’’ he said.
Shehu stated that the Buhari administration was determined to enforce the decision of the court clearly issued.
According to the presidential aide, the administration has absolutely no hand in the ongoing court case and the courts are free to determine the bail request and the final outcome.
“The mentality that you are above the law and that your own rights are superior to other people’s rights is unacceptable.
“You can’t be provoking other citizens by interfering with their own rights on public roads and disrupting their businesses and call it democratic freedom. In democratic traditions, their rights end where the rights of others begin.
“Law abiding citizens must avoid deliberate lawlessness. It is not within the rights of any group to enter protected public institutions such as the National Assembly by force to attack police and destroy public and private property,’’ he said.
Shehu advised all citizens to embrace dialogue and eschew violence in all their actions to promote peacefully coexistence among the diverse ethno-religious groups in the country.
“We therefore appeal to the Shiite group to stop deliberate provocations that result in violence and fatalities and allow the trial of El-ZakZaky to take its course,’’ he maintained. -
21 million of us ready to sacrifice our lives for El-zakzaky's freedom – Shiites
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shi’ites have vowed to lay down the lives of its members who are more down 21 million if the Federal Government failed to release its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Shi’ites said this while staging its protest in Ikeja, Lagos State on Thursday.
Members of the group chanted several songs, demanding that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration should respect court orders and release El-Zakzaky.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the South-West Coordinator of IMN, Mr. Muftau Zakariya, called on the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, to prevail on Buhari to release it’s leader.
According to Zakariya, the group would not desist from protest until Buhari released El-Zakzaky.
He said: “We are ready to die if our leader is not released. If they are ready to kill us, we have 21 million lives to offer. I know that Nigerian soldiers do not have 21 million bullets to shoot at us.
“It’s true that there are 21 million Shi’ites in Nigeria, and if they kill our leader, which country will they have to rule by 2023.
“Buhari got to the office because the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, assisted him. It was Tinubu that started the movement and spent his money to ensure that the party assumes power. We’re calling on Tinubu, to talk to the President, who is a member of his party to free our leader. If he allows the President to continue to kill our members, there will not be Nigeria in 2023. We’re not happy over the continued detention of our leader.”
This is coming barely 48-hours after members of the groups invaded the National Assembly and forcibly took over the complex and injured six policemen in the process.
The protesters were said to have overpowered security men at the popular Mopol (Mobile Policemen) gate and entered the second gate.
Soon after they entered, the Shi’ites members started vandalizing vehicles that were either coming or going out of the National Assembly. The mayhem forced workers and visitors to scamper for safety. -
Senate invasion: Police arraign 38 Shiites members
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Thursday arraigned 38 members of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky’s Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in an Abuja court.
Twenty-eight of them were arraigned in a Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 6 while 10 others were arraigned in Magistrates Court in Wuse Zone 2.
Twenty-eight of the accused were granted bail with conditions by Magistrate Ahmed Ndajiw and Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim at Wuse Zone 6 Court.
Ten, according to the magistrates in Wuse Zone 2, would be kept in a good facility outside police cell.
The police said two of the 40 suspects arrested for Tuesday’s violent protest were freed during investigation.
Their arraignment followed the arrest of the members during Tuesday’s violent protest and forceful invasion of the National Assembly.
The sect members’ invasion left nine policemen injured and several vehicles destroyed.
The first information report was read in English and interpreted in Hausa language to the defendants at Court 13 of the Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2.
They were charged with the following offences: criminal conspiracy, mischief, unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servant in the discharge of duty, rioting armed with deadly weapons, causing grievous hurt, disturbance of public peace, assault or criminal force to determine public servant from discharge of his duty contrary to sections 97, 326, 149, 107, 243, 113 and 264 of the Penal Code.
The report reads: “That on July 9, 2019 at 1300 hours (1 p.m), a team of policemen, led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) National Assembly police station, Umar Sabo Abdullahi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), while performing their official duty, came across you and others at large who formed a common intention and were behaving in a riotous manner and in possession of dangerous weapons.
“The DPO, in performing his lawful duty, ordered you to disperse but you forced yourselves into the National Assembly, burnt and destroyed many vehicles. You equally snatched a gun from Inspector Ahmed Sani and caused grievous hurt on the following police officers: Umar Sabo Abdullahi, a Superintendent of Police (SP); Ahmed Sani as well as Mohammed Sarki and Joseph Abutu, both Corporals.
“You also destroyed the police post at the National Assembly and shot at two police pfficers who are now lying critically ill at the hospital. You thereby committed the above offences.”
The 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence counsel, I. A. Ishaq, urged the court to grant them bail and discharge and acquit the accused on the ground that they denied the allegations.
He said: “All the defendants denied allegation and in view of their denial, we humbly apply for their bail. We also urge the court to discharge and acquit them on the ground that they are minors and students from various schools.
“Nine of the 10 defendants are minors and students. The adult among them is 51 years old.”