- A rights group has called for the proscription of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria
- The group gave a 72-hours ultimatum to the Attorney General of the Federation on the matter
- In its petition, the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) said it has observed with disenchantment how members of IMN
A pro-democracy and civil rights group in Nigeria has threatened court action against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, if he fails to proscribe and declare the Islamic Movement (IMN) as a terrorist organization within 72 hours.
The Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) said it has observed with disenchantment how members of IMN known as Shiites have continued to breach national peace, cause mayhem and making life unbearable for innocent citizens.
In a petition signed by Akan Eneji, the director of research and evaluation to the AGF, the rights group said, there is no gainsaying the fact that IMN is not a registered organization at the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAP C20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which implies that it cannot be sued or tried as an entity for crimes committed by its members.
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Emoji said from evidence made available to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai, to look into the clash that occurred between IMN and the Nigerian Army between 12th and 14th December, 2015, IMN has never ceased to be a violent organization.
He said the December 2015 clash with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai led to a subsequent military operation which uncovered cache of arms and ammunition purported to have been procured by IMN with the backing of one of the foreign Islamic Republics.
The petitio read in part: "Being the foregoing as it may, a careful reading of the combined provisions of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 establishes that IMN by its activities and characters ought to be proscribed and designated as a terrorist group just like Boko Haram and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). For purposes of clarity, we have identified the many infractions committed by IMN since it came into existence in Nigeria to wit; Acts of Terrorism: Section 1 Subsection (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 prohibits all acts of terrorism and financing of terrorism while Section 1 Subsection (2) of the Act prescribes a maximum of death sentence for any person or body corporate who willingly commits an offence relating to terrorism either directly or indirectly within or outside Nigeria".
"There are overwhelming evidence contained in the report of the Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry to show that IMN is law unto itself. As it happened in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja recently, members of IMN are fond of confronting law enforcement agencies in order to rescue any of its members arrested or kept in custody in connection with acts of terrorism.
This is a blatant breach of Section 6 the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the offence attracts imprisonment for a term not less than 20 years.
"Sir, we submit that the above infractions are substantial enough to nail IMN as a terrorist group without much ado. As the situation stands, the refusal of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to proscribe IMN all along has contributed to the spread of terrorism in Nigeria.
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We are at a loss as to why the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice neither utilized the final report of the Kaduna Commission of Inquiry nor set up another panel to fully deal with an issue as sensitive as IMN at the national level even though he has the power to do so under our laws.
"It is on record that the leadership of IMN and thousands of its followers have been jailed a number of times, but they remain adamant about converting Nigeria to an Islamic State at all cost. Unless and until the government develops the courage to tackle the excesses of El-Zakzaky and the confrontational, un-cordial, dramatic and deadly IMN at once, the much anticipated peace in Northern-Nigeria as a whole will remain a mirage.
The contribution of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to the anti-terror efforts to make Nigeria safe again is quite commendable and must be sustained no matter whose ox is gored.
"We therefore give the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice 72 (Seventy Two) hours ultimatum from the date hereof to activate the necessary statutory procedures with a view to proscribing IMN for setting up or pursuing acts of terrorism.
In the event that this ultimatum expires without any positive actions taken, we shall not hesitate to drag the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice being the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria to a court of competent jurisdiction in order to compel him to do the needful in the interest of peace, national security and safety of innocent citizens who now live in fear of IMN," the petition.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigeria Police Force has rejected the report by Amnesty International that the police made use of deadly force against members of the IMN.
Legit.ng gathers that the police rejected the Amnesty International report in a statement issued by the police public relations officer, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood.
The organisation had alleged in its report on Wednesday, October 31, that the police and military used deadly force against IMN members.
It also said that security forces must be held responsible for killing 45 members of the group.
Shiites Prepare to Bury Their Members 48 Hours After Clash With Security Forces - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
