NewsRescue
The Kano state government has been arraigned before the Federal High Court by the All Ja’fariyya Development Association and one Abdullahi Hassan Adamu seeking an order for the enforcement of their fundamental rights to life.
This is contained in an affidavit filed before the Federal High Court in Kano that is also seeking in addition, fair hearing, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, peaceful assembly and association as well as freedom of movement.
The group is also seeking court order for freedom from discrimination as contained in the sections 33, 36(1), 40, 41 and 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
It is also seeking this as contained in the African Charter on Human and People’s Right (Enforcement Procedure and Ratification Act) Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
Included as second and third respondents in the case are the Commissioner of Police, Kano state Command and Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kano state respectively.
As part of his affidavit, the second applicant stated that on the 10th of October 2016 between the hours of 10-12:30 pm when members of his Association were holding a peaceful and constitutionally guaranteed procession along Obasanjo Road, Abattoir Street, Koki in Kano Metropolis, commemorating the martyrdom anniversary of Husain bin Ali (grandson of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)) suddenly the Nigerian Police, Kano Command descended on the people and opened fire using AK47 rifles with life ammunitions that resulted to killing one of their members.
He also stated that on the 14th of November, 2016 at Karfi along Zaria road Kano, a group of Muslims comprising members of his Association were also holding a peaceful constitutionally guaranteed procession to commemorate 40 days of the martyrdom of Husain bin Ali when the Police again descended on them and opened fire with AK47 rifles using life ammunitions consequently killing a number of people including members of their association.
He further accused the respondents of discriminating against them and their right to assemble peacefully and express their beliefs when they dispersed their peaceful assembly killing and injuring some of their members without trial or any just course.
This the applicants claim followed a nod given by the state executive Governor to decisively make life difficult to members of their association in Kano state when he was visited by a group of some Islamic preachers propagating hate speech under the name Coalition of Ulama and Civil Societies who urged the state Governor to take punitive and harsh measures against the Shiite adherents and the he agreed.
In addition, the association is seeking the court to direct the respondents to jointly pay the applicants the sum of N500,000,000:00 (Five hundred million naira only) as compensation for violating their fundamental human rights to which they are entitled.
Signed:
Abdullahi Alhassan Adamu
Chairman Kano Branch, All Ja’Afariyya Development Association
No. 609, Guruza Avenue Fage D-2, Local Government, Kano State
