The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites have slammed a N200million suit on the Nigerian Police and the Attorney General of the Federation over alleged disruption of their programmes in Abuja by the police.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on behalf of IMN, Dr Sabi’u Adamu said they are demanding N200 million damage from the police and Attorney General of the Federation for violating their human rights.
He said at several occasions when the Shi’ites gather to have a programme at the Nigerian capital territory, the police or Department of State Security invade the scene and disrupt their activities and arrest some of their members.
“This is to inform the public that we have filed a N200 million lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Attorney General of the Federation for disruption of our programmes in Abuja. The lawsuit was filed on 18 December, 2024, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1009/V/2024.
“It is pertinent to inform the public that on Saturday, 14 December, 2024, we have made all necessary preparations for the 9th Anniversary of the 2015 Zaria massacre to commemorate the incident at Highpoint Events and Conference Hall, Laralek House, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, and the conference is scheduled to commence by 9:30 am, but since before 7:00 am, the police of the FCT Command and the Secret Police (DSS) barricaded the event centre and started arresting participants of the conference.
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“The conference could not take place at the centre, and up to this moment, the police continue to unlawfully detain those arrested around the event centre without any court order.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time police are disrupting our programmes.
“A similar incident happened in October at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. On 13 October, 2024, some youth of the Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) organised the birthday of Sayyid Ahmad Zakzaky at Decency Event Centre, Wuse Zone 5, FCT-Abuja. While programme is going on, police arrived at the event centre and lock up the gate of the centre, arrest some participants, and disperse the gathering.
“The event was organized at the Decency Event Centre to celebrate a hero, Sayyid Ahmad Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was born on 13 October 1990 and assassinated on 25 July 2014 during the Zaria Quds Day Massacre executed by the Nigerian Army, Sayyid Ahmad is the son of his eminence Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was assassinated during the Zaria Quds massacres on 25 July 2014, when the Nigerian Army opened fire on adherents of Sayyid Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) who were taking part in Quds day rallies and killed 35 people, including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky.
“To challenge these unlawful actions of the police, we have filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Attorney General of the Federation”, he said.
Adamu said in the lawsuit, that they applied for a court declaration that the disruption of the birthday of Sayyid Ahmad Ibraheem Zakzaky organised at Decency Events Centre, Wuse Zone 5, FCT-Abuja on 13 October 2024 and the treatment meted out on them by the police is illegal, unlawful, null, and void and amounts to a gross violation of our rights.
He said they also applied for an order of the Court directing the Police and Attorney General of the Federation to refund us the sum of N600,000, being the money we paid for the use of Decency Events Centre.
“An order of the court directing the respondents, jointly and severally to pay us the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000) only as general damages for unlawful disruption of our programme
“An order of the Court directing the police to tender a formal apology to us in two different national dailies; and
“An order of the court restraining the respondents or their agents from depriving us our rights”, he added.
