Shiites calls for release of arrested members, plans to sue IGP for contempt of court
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiites, has demanded that the Nigerian Police Force release their members who were arrested for participating in the 2024 Arba’een Symbolic Trek in Abuja.
The group also revealed plans to file a contempt of court lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, requesting that the Federal High Court commit the IGP to prison.
The Islamic group disclosed this in a statement in Abuja signed by Shaikh Rabi’u Abdullahi under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky.
Abdullahi, in the statement said, “As of the time of this press release, we do not know the exact number of our brothers and sisters in their custody.”
Abdullahi further said that the group did not know the number of those the police had allegedly “killed, as they took away the corpses.”
“We have reasons to believe that this is an attempt to bury under the carpet the heinous crime they committed.
“As of the time of writing this statement, we do not know the exact number of our brothers and sisters in their custody. Nor do we know the number of those they killed, as they took away the corpses.
“Today, August 27, 2024, around 9:00 a.m., a verifiable report reaching us revealed that the police attacked the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja.
READ ALSO: Shiites protest in Kaduna demand, Zakzaky’s release
“The public could recall that the police conducted a similar operation in 2019 where they arrested patients in the hospital and detained them at SARS Abbatoir. And eventually, those arrested at the hospital died in police custody, and the police dumped their corpses at Asokoro District Hospital.
“In view of the aforesaid crime conducted by the police, we filed a case at the Federal High Court, Abuja. After determination of our case, the Federal High Court of Nigeria has ruled that the arrest of Ja’afar Muhammad by the Nigeria Police at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, on July 22, 2019, and his subsequent killing on July 24, 2019, at SARS Abattoir, Abuja, were illegal and constituted a gross violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The judgement was delivered by Justice Z. B. Abubakar of the Abuja Division in response to a case filed by Naziru Isah Abdullahi with suit number FHC/ABJ/CD/409/2020.
“The court also granted an order directing the Inspector General of Police to pay the applicant the sum of One Hundred Million Naira only for the unlawful detention and killing of Ja’afar Muhammad.
“Up to this moment, the police have refused to pay the fine, and they are now committing another crime.
“This left us with no option but to file a contempt of court against the IGP and request that the Federal High Court commit the Inspector General of Police to prison,” he concluded.
Proofreading and editing by Gift Luckson and Hafsat Aleeyu Muye, Editor and Journalist at Neptune Prime.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
,){kind=link}