Statement By The Legal Team Of The Islamic Movement In Nigeria (IMN) On The Submission Of The Report Of The Judicial Commission Of Inquiry Set Up By The Kaduna State Government
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry inaugurated by the Kaduna State Government on the 29th day of January 2016 on the “clash” between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army submitted its report to the Kaduna State Government on the 15th day of July 2016. In his remarks at the submission of the report, the Chairman of the Commission Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba Stated that:
“They (IMN) had appeared, they were
represented by counsels at the initial stage of the proceedings, but for no reason known to the commission, the counsels decided to opt out.
“I said for no reason known to the commission because there was no formal communication to the commission on why they decided not to continue their appearance before the commission.
“However, there were newspapers and online publications that they did not want to appear. Because of that we had to apply for extension of time and at the end of the day we have been able to produce a report of the commission’s assignment,”
I have the instructions and mandate of Femi Falana, SAN to respond to the remarks made by the Chairman of the Commission while submitting his report to the Kaduna State Government.
The Legal Team of the IMN believes that it is disingenuous for the Chairman of the Commission to claim that he is not aware of the reasons for the withdrawal of the Legal Team of the IMN (comprising of Femi Falana, SAN, Festus Okoye Esq and Maxwell Kyon Esq) from further participation in the proceedings of the Commission and the reasons are:
1. On the 8th and 9th of February 2016 the Legal Team of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria met with the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to get the express permission and authorization of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Sheik Ibrahim Zak Zaky for purposes of their appearance and participation before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and same was denied.
2. On the 11th day of February 2016, the Legal Team of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) wrote to the Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry intimating him of its inability to submit memorandum/da as the Legal Team was denied access to the Leader of the Movement Sheik Ibrahim Zak Zaky.
3. On the same 24th day of February 2016, a member of the Legal Team, Maxwell Kyon Esq. appeared before the Judicial Commission and clearly stated that the Legal Team appeared out of respect to the Commission considering the fact that it has been denied access and opportunity to meet with and conference with the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and cannot in the circumstances provide meaningful representation and or put up any meaningful appearance before the Judicial Commission.
4. On Monday the 29th day of February 2016, Maxwell Kyon Esq. appeared before the Judicial Commission and informed the Commission that nobody has seen the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and that the facilitation the Commission promised has not yielded any positive result.
5. On the 9th day of March 2016 Festus Okoye Esq. and Maxwell Kyon Esq. appeared before the Commission and gave a detailed exposition of the efforts that the Legal Team made and continued to make up to the said 9th of March 2016 to be granted access to the leader of the Islamic Movement. It was on the basis of this that the Commission directed that Counsel to the Commission to liaise with the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Kaduna State to facilitate access to the leader of the Movement.
6. On the 7th day of March, 2016 the Commission wrote to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Kaduna State and served copies of the said letters on the Legal Team of the IMN on the 8th day of March 2016 and urged collaboration and facilitation of access of the Legal Team representing the IMN and Counsel to the Commission to see the detained leader of the IMN between now and Friday 11th March, 2016 and to report back at the next sitting of the Commission scheduled for Monday, 14th March, 2016.
7. On the 14th day of March 2016 the Counsel to the Commission reported to the Commission that they had written to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Kaduna State but they had difficulties in getting the Attorney General to act on the said letter and the Commission adjourned to the 21st day of March 2016.
8. On the same 14th day of March 2016, in a clear attempt to blackmail the Legal Team of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, the Commission directed its Secretary Dr Bala Babaji to issue a Press Statement stating that “The Commission notes that IMN has been represented by Counsel and is satisfied that the said Counsel has been properly briefed by the IMN to appear before us. The Commission has strived hard to afford all parties to be fairly represented and treated with justice and fairness in all its deliberations. The Commission intends to proceed with its deliberations on Monday, March 21, 2016 by taking the Memorandum submitted by the Army. The Commission will furthermore issue to the public its schedule of appearances and presentations in due course. Counsel to the IMN are to submit their memorandum no later than March 21, 2016”.
Our Reaction to the Submission of Report by the Commission
a. The Judicial Commission of inquiry showed its limitations and complete lack of power in compelling the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow the Legal Team access to the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and compelling the Service to release him conditionally or unconditionally to testify before the Commission.
b. The Judicial Commission was aware that the Kaduna State Government had made up its mind on the immediate and remote causes of what it calls the “unfortunate incident of 12th and 13th of December 2015” by framing charges of culpable homicide, rioting, unlawful assembly, possession of charms and unlawful restraint against 251 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
c. The Commission never extended invitation to the over 251 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria that are detained in the Kaduna Prison awaiting trial to testify before the Commission. These are the direct victims of the incident and over 50 of them are still carrying bullets and bullet wounds in their body and a number of them have died in detention as a result of injuries sustained by them during the clash.
d. In the light of the above, the Legal Team could not in good conscience continue participation in a judicial process with a pre determined outcome.
e. The Legal Team of the Islamic Movement was fully aware that the Commission was engaged in subterfuge and blackmail when its Counsel Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN informed the Commission that he was yet to facilitate access to the leader of the Islamic Movement only for the Commission to claim on the same day that “The Commission notes that IMN has been represented by Counsel and is satisfied that the said Counsel has been properly briefed by the IMN”
f. The Counsel to the Commission Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN did inform the Commission that he met with the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in detention and he informed him of his willingness to testify before the Commission yet the Commission was powerless in getting the Department of State Services to allow the leader of the Islamic Movement to testify before it.
g. The Legal Team of the Islamic Movement (IMN) did not have the locus to give evidence on behalf of a client who the Commission was powerless to facilitate access to or compel his release and attendance.
h. The Legal Team insists that it would have been an exercise in futility to continue participation and appearance before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that deliberately refused to exercise the powers conferred on it by law to compel the release and appearance of one of the parties when the said party was being held by one of the parties to the dispute.
i. The Legal Team of the Islamic Movement (IMN) on the instructions of the Leader of the Islamic Movement has since activated other constitutional and legal avenues of redress and will continue to use the instrumentality of the law to see that justice is done and that due process and the rule of law continues to be the guiding principle of our democracy.
Festus Okoye Esq.
(On behalf of the Legal Team)
Kaduna, July 18, 2016