The Islamic Movement in Nigeria,
IMN, has accused the Federal Government of resorting to delay tactics in the
prosecution of the remaining cases involving its members including the one
trying the leader of the organization’s leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
It said the government was
deliberately frustrating its legal team led by Mr Femi Falana, SAN and Mr
Maxwell Kyon, who have so far successfully defended and won all the cases
against the government.
IMN, also known as Shiites, said
the government has adopted this method because it has not been able to win a
case against its members in court.
In a statement on,
Wednesday signed by Ibrahim Musa, its President, Media Forum, the IMN said,
“Today, exactly a week ago the Kaduna State High Court presided by Justice
Nyoms discharged and acquitted 9 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria
arrested precisely three years ago while on their way to attend the Islamic
religious rite of Ashura mourning in Kaduna.
“All the nine, including two
women, stood trial in the Kaduna State High Court since September 2016. They
were accused of being members of the Islamic Movement, unlawful assembly and
intent to disturb the public among others.
“In his judgment, Justice Nyoms
said the prosecution didn’t prove any of the charges against any of those
standing trial.
“This recent favourable judgement
adds to the number of landmark cases in which the government has failed to
convict any member of the Islamic Movement for any crime in various courts
across the country since the Zaria massacre of December 2015.
“So far, hundreds of members of
the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have been discharged and acquitted for alleged
crimes including that of culpable homicide among others after proper trials in
courts.
“Since the persecution of the
members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H)
commenced, the High Courts in Kaduna and Sokoto, as well as the Court of
Appeal, have discharged and acquitted 309 members of the Islamic Movement and
dismissed the frivolous charges brought against them.
“On 2nd July of 2015 the Sokoto
Judicial Division – Court of Appeal – has discharged and acquitted 112 members
of the Islamic Movement of any offence.
“On Tuesday 30/07/2018 Justice
David Shiri Wyom at the Kaduna State High Court cleared over 80 Shiite
supporters of the Islamic Movement of criminal charges linked to a violent
protest in 2015. He ruled in favour of the defence’s no-case submission, saying
that the state did not present enough evidence to go ahead with proceedings.
“This explains why the government
has resorted to employing delay tactics in the prosecution of the remaining
cases left in court including the one trying the leader of the Islamic
Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky through deliberate attempts at frustrating
the legal team of the Islamic Movement, led by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN and Mr.
Maxwell Kyon, who have so far successfully defended and won all the cases
against the government.
“We, therefore, call on the
federal and state governments to withdraw the unfounded charges against our
leader Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and others standing trial. They are toying with the
lives of innocent citizens, which is an aberration in any democratic polity.”
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