Army/Shi’ite clash: El-Zakzaky takes new decision
– Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky has agreed to join in the inquiry into the clash between his members and the Nigerian army
– Yusuf Ali, counsel to the judicial commission of inquiry investigating the clash decline to mention where he met with El-Zakzaky
– Festus Okoye, who led the IMN legal team vowed not to appear before the commission again
The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky has taken a new decision regarding the inquiry into the bloody clash that ensued between his followers and the Nigerian army.
READ ALSO: Zaria bloodbath: Lawyer seeks arrest of El-Zakzaky’s wife
According to a report by Daily Trust, counsel to the judicial commission of inquiry investigating the clash, Yusuf Ali, told the commission that he met with El-Zakzaky, and that he has agreed to participate in the probe.
The commission upon getting the positive report on March 23, adjourned sitting in order to enable the sect submit its memorandum before commencing thorough public hearing on the incident.
However, Festus Okoye, who led the IMN legal team, had on Tuesday expressed disappointment with the commission and threatened to stop appearing before it.
Ali told the commission that counsel to the IMN was not present during his meeting with El-Zakzaky.
He said Femi Falana, who is the lead counsel to the IMN, was also not in the loop about withdrawal of the legal team of the IMN from the commission.
The counsel to the Nigeria army before now had objected to the continued delay in the inquiry as he strongly opposed the application for adjournment saying too much time had been wasted.
The counsel suggested that the commission should continue with the hearing while the IMN should be allowed to join any time it was ready with its memo.
But, Justice Muhammadu Garba Lawal, who is the chairman of the commission, ruled that since the commission had adjourned sittings all this while in order to enable the IMN access its leader and obtain proper briefing, it would not be fair to continue hearing without the movement.
READ ALSO: El-Zakzaky’s daughter speaks about tragedy in Zaria
Justice Lawal stated that since the movement had finally met is leader who had agreed to participate in the inquiry, it was only right to allow the movement time to prepare and submit its memo.
The commission chairmen then adjourned sitting to April 6.
PM News reports that Shi’ite members refused to appear before the judicial commission of inquiry which held in Kaduna state, on February 22.
Meanwhile, members of IMN, who have recently marked the 100th day since the Zaria clash, have taken the Nigerian army to the International Criminal Court in The Hague over alleged genocide and war crimes.
The movement in its submission to the ICC, revealed that photographic evidence has been obtained along with evidence of mass graves where the army is reported to have buried fatalities from the killing spree.
But, the United Kingdom chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group has threatened the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) over the bloody clash that ensued between the army and the Shi’ite group.
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