Prosecute Police officers responsible for killing of Shi’ite members, NHRC tells IGP

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday called on the Inspector General of Police to prosecute all operational police officers under whose supervision the Tuesday’s peaceful processing members of the Shiite religious sect were allegedly killed.

Reacting to the alleged killing of some members of the Shiites while on Ashura annual mourning procession across the country, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, called for an in-depth investigation into the killings with a view to bringing anyone involved in the dastardly act to book.

A statement by the Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of the Commission, Lambert Oparah expressed the Commission’s disappointment over the sad development in spite of its earlier warning of caution to both the police and members of the Shiite who intend to embark on the annual procession.

He added that the continued acts of violence leading to loss of lives and wanton destruction of property in avoidable circumstances is unacceptable.

 “These acts of extra-judicial killing by the police have made human life inconsequential in Nigeria,” the statement said.

While urging the Police to always mainstream human rights in their operations, Ojukwu called on the police boss to sanction all commissioners of police under whose command these extra-judicial killings were perpetrated.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned till October 28, 2019, to commence hearing of the motion filed by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), challenging an order of the court, proscribing its existence and activities in any part of Nigeria.

The adjournment was at the instance of the IMN counsel, Samuel Okala from the chambers of Femi Falana, who asked for time to enable the applicant to respond to the fresh application filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, who is the only respondent in the suit.

Recall that the trial Judge, Justice Nkeonye Maha had on July 26, in a ruling in an exparte application filed by the federal government, made an order proscribing the existence and activities of the Islamic Movement, also known as Shi’ites in any part of the country under whatever form, either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called or referred to.

The movement, in a motion on notice filed on August 2, asked the court to vacate the ex-parte order, proscribing the existence and activities of the group in Nigeria on the grounds that the said order, was made without jurisdiction and in violation of their fundamental rights.

The group in the motion filed by their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN) also asked the court to set aside the order ”restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the IMN, under any other name or platform howsoever called or described in any part of Nigeria”.

The Islamic Movement said, “the ex-parte order of July 26, proscribing the existence and activities of the group in any part of Nigeria under whatever form, either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called or referred to was made without affording the Respondent/Applicant the right of fair hearing.

”The said order of the honourable court breached the fundamental right of all members of the IMN in Nigeria to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004”.

“The order ex-parte was anchored on misrepresentation of material facts and based on suppression of material facts.

”The ex-parte order constitutes a gross abuse of the process of this honourable court,” the group stated.