Army/Shi’a uproar: We cannot submit our memoranda to panel of inquiry until – Shi’ites
Army/Shi’a uproar: We cannot submit our memoranda to panel of inquiry until – Shi’ites
By Godwin Ekosin
As Judicial Commission of Inquiry (JCI) set up by Kaduna state Government to examine the historical cause(s) of clash between men of Nigerian Army (NA) and members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) that left some people dead in December 2015 in Zaria, Shi’ites, on Monday shunned the panel as the Commission begins public hearing on the matter.
Army were fully represented at the inaugural sitting of the Commission held at State house, Kaduna, to tell their own side of the story, while a team of lawyers to the IMN refused to show up.
Their refusal was hinged on their early claim that they have written to the commission of their inability to submit memorandum because of lack of access to the leader of the Movement, Sheik Ibrahim el-Zakzaky whose directive is paramount before they could do anything.
As a result, Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, adjourned the sitting to Wednesday.
“This sitting has to be adjourned till Wednesday because of the absence of one party involved in the inquiry.
“Counsel to the commission, Yusuf Ali (SAN) has been asked to find out the whereabouts of the leader of the Shi’ites and report back to the commission.
“It is required by law for every party in the clash to be present at all the sittings of the proceedings.”
The Islamic Movement had before now faulted the 13-man composition of the panel, saying some of its members are already against the Movement.
Posted from GoBroadsheet