Guardian / Nigeria: The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), has given the release of its leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky from prison custody, as key condition for its appearance before a Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Kaduna State Government.
The judicial commission was set up to investigate the December 2015 deadly attack on members of IMN, also known as the Shiites in Zaria by the Nigerian Army.
This is against the backdrop of calls by the Northern Governors on the Shiite members to return to the judicial panel with their memorandum.
The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, advised the Shiites to make whatever case they have known to the panel, pointing out that the governors have absolute confidence in those that constituted the members of the Commission to deliver sound judgment and recommendation.
However, the Spokesman of the Shiites, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, at the weekend, in a statement said “the Northern State Governors Forum (NSGF), in a communiqué issued at its meeting last Friday, called on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) to cooperate with the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government to investigate the December military attack on members of IMN in Zaria”, adding that “we appreciate the governors call, at least it is an acknowledgement on their part that something unfortunate in the history of the north happened in Zaria that if not handled fairly and justly could have long-term consequences for the region and the country in general.”
Musa argued that the members of “IMN made their points for staying away from the Commission very clear and will like to remind the governors and the general public,” pointing out that “ none of the reasons have been given consideration or addressed by any of the relevant authorities or even by the NSGF or all those clamouring for our appearance before the commission.
“Foremost among the reasons is the continued incarceration of the leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who we all know was attacked in his own house towards midnight in what the Army termed ‘cordoned and search’ operation without any justification.
‘The crux of the matter is that there is simply no rational basis for the soldier’s attack in his residence in the first place. In effect justice demands that Sheikh Zakzaky is supposed to be a free man so that he can give his own input to the Commission on his own volition.
