By Mohammad Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) — The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as Shi’te has threatened to boycott the sitting of Commission of Inquiry set up by Kaduna State government to investigate the clash between the group and soldiers in Zaria
Department of State Security (DSS) has continued to deny Shite legal team access to Leader of the group, Shaikh Ibraheem Zazzaky who ihas been in their custody since December, 2015.
The continued denial of access to the leader had led to several adjournments of the commissions previous sitting in the state.
The group representatives refused to appear before the commission, saying until they get access to their leader for briefing they will not make presentation at the commission.
Chairman of the Resource Forum, Dr. Abdullahi Danladi said it is unfortunate that their legal team headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana were denied access to Shiekh Zakzaky at the DSS headquarters in Abuja after four attempts.
“It is now a common knowledge that a legal team led by Femi Falana SAN and Festus Okoye have made more than four fruitless attempts to see Sheikh Zakzaky for the purpose of submitting memorandum to the Judicial commission of inquiry and his appearance before the said commission,” he said.
He said the purpose of seeing Sheikh is to have audience with him and all the visits yielded no positive result, adding that, it is therefore clear that there is a laid out plan to prevent the legal team of the movement from getting access to its leader.
“It is not fair that a judicial commission of inquiry was set up but the leader of the movement at the center of the storm will be held incommunicado. Shiekh Ibraheem was shot severally and his sons as well as other family members murdered before his eyes and his personal House fire bombed by the military would be denied access to his lawyers.
“Our appearance before the Commission shall be predicated on the following: The unconditional release of the leader of the Movement Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky to lead the Movement to the said Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government.
It would be recalled that during the first sitting of the commission, Its Chairman Justice Muhammed Garba, has ordered the Counsel to the commission Yusuf Ali to find out the whereabouts of Sheikh Zakzaky within 24 hours.
