Following the invitation for memorandum to be submitted to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by the Kaduna state government as contained in a letter received by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on the 2nd of February 2016, it is pertinent to note that all efforts towards meeting to the request might be jeopardized by the refusal to allow access to the revered leader of the Movement, his Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.
On February 8, 2016 Solicitors of the Islamic Movement wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police requesting to meet the leader of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky, however up to this moment they were not given access to him.
In his position as the sole custodian of the Movement, the need to meet Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky for guidance on the right steps to take in the current situation cannot be overemphasized. Unfortunately, all efforts to meet with Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky as demanded by the Movement have been refused by the authorities who are illegally abducting him and refusing him any visitation.
In view of this, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is insisting that it must get the express permission and authorization of its leader Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky before it will take a decision on whether to submit a memorandum to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. This is in view of the fact that Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. He is also the spokesperson of the Movement as well as the custodian of its properties
Considering the magnitude of the events that took place in Zaria between the 12th and 14th day of December 2015 and the subsequent events in Kaduna State, the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria are of the firm view that their team of lawyers must see their leader and get instructions and proper briefings from him before the period for the submission of Memorandum elapses.
It would be recalled that on the 12th to 14th of December 2015 the Nigerian Army launched a coordinated attack on the Islamic Movement in Zaria that led to the incessant loss of lives of unarmed members of the Movement, where some were burnt to death by the army including women and children, which also led to the mass burial of the slayed members and the subsequent abduction of the revered leader of the Movement.
This was followed by calls for independent investigation into the incident which led to the establishment of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry by the Kaduna state government that will submit its report six weeks from the start of public hearing based on some points of reference.
The Movement had since expressed lack of confidence on the composition of the Commission which is made up of enemies of the Islamic Movement and staunch anti-IMN sectarians and also the absence of any human rights representation.
SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT
MEDIA FORUM ISLAMIC MOVEMENT
