The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has announced its withdrawal from participation at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the December 12, 2015 Shiite/Nigeria Army clash in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Festus Okoye, lead counsel to the Islamic sect, also known as the Shiite Movement, made the announcement while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Okoye said the legal team had resolved to withdraw from participation at the panel.
He said the decision was due to the inability of the defence team to gain access to the leader of the movement, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, being held at the headquarters of the Department of State Services.
He said: “The legal team of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria will not be used and will not allow itself to be used to legitimise a pre-determined position and agenda against the leader of the Movement.
“The legal team thought it could lend its support to the Movement to tell the Nigerian public and the international community its own version of the events of December 12 to December 14, 2015.
“But all efforts aimed at getting proper briefing from the leader of the Islamic Movement met a brick wall.
“The legal team has resolved that in the light of the realities of the lack of access, briefing and representation for the movement, it must take a decision on the way forward.
“In this case, the most honourable thing to do is to withdraw completely from appearance before the commission in any form and manner.
“The Islamic Movement of Nigeria believes that the Nigerian people are entitled to know the truth of what happened in Zaria and Kaduna.
“And the movement will explore alternative means and avenues for letting them know.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commission was set up by the Kaduna State Government on January 29 to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the clash between the Islamic sect and the Nigerian Army.
The panel had been mandated to submit its findings and recommendations to government within six weeks.
Meanwhile, the Justice Muhammad Lawal Garba panel on Monday adjourned sitting till Wednesday.
Garba had said the adjournment was for the defence counsel to meet with El-Zakzaky in the custody of the DSS.
He said the adjournment followed assurances from the DSS that the defence counsel would be given access to their client by 12noon on Monday.
The panel had on March 17 mandated the Islamic Movement of Nigeria to submit a memorandum on March 21.
The commission said the memorandum would form the basis for the sect’s appearance before it.
Garba on Monday announced that the panel would hear the memorandum of the Nigerian Army on March 23.
NAN.
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