Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shiites, have raised alarm that they are being frustrated by the DSS and Police to have access to their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
This they said has prevented them from submitting their memorandum to the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the bloody clash between them and the Nigerian Army in Zaria on December 12, 2015.
At the resumed sitting of the commission on Monday, counsel to the movement, Festus Okoye, told the commission that all efforts by the Shiites’ legal team or its members to have access to El-Zakzaky were unsuccessful in spite of several meetings they had with the DSS and Police authorities in Abuja.
He attributed the delay by the group to submit its memorandum to the commission to inability of the members to meet with their leader who is believed to be in custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the Federal Capital Territory.
On his part, counsel to the Commission, Yusuf Ali (SAN), asked the commission to order the Attorney General of Kaduna State and the Attorney General of the Federation to liaise with him to see how they can have access to El-Zakzaky and get briefings from him.
Ruling on the two submissions, the Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Garba, granted Mr Ali’s request and directed both Attorney Generals to fast track the meeting to enable the Shiite members have access to their leader.
Justice Garba subsequently adjourned the sitting till March 14.
Since the commencement of sitting on February 22, the Commission of Inquiry had adjourned sitting four times.
Although it has so far received 105 memoranda from individuals and groups, the failure of the commission to commence hearing has been attributed to the inability of the Shiites to make their submissions.
