21st March, 2016
Femi Ad/Kaduna
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Kaduna State Government to look into the clashes between the Army and Shi’ite sect again adjourned sitting to allow Counsel to Shiite and Commission have access to Shiekh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, currently under State Security Service detention in Abuja.
This is the fifth time the panel of inquiry was compelled to adjourned sitting over Shi’ites’ failure to appear and demand to see their leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky before submitting memoranda.
Though the panel had last week ordered the counsel to the Shi’ite sect to present its memorandum on or before 21st March, 2016, while assuring that the commission will commence its proceedings in earnest by taking the memorandum submitted by the Nigerian Army on the said date, Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Garba Lawal, said the Commission was compelled to grant the plea for adjournment.
This is to enable counsel to the Shi’ites the final opportunity to have access to their leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
He also said the commission considered the unexpected application for adjournment by one of the commission’s counsel, Chief Ustaz Yunus, SAN, for another adjournment to allow counsel representing the Shi’ite sect and commission to have access to El-Zakzaky before hearing commences.
According to the commission Chairman, the Inquiry Commission granted the application and proceedings adjourned till Wednesday, 23 March, 2016 and to also take the presentation from the army.
Earlier , Yunus , SAN, informed the panel of inquiry Monday that the inability of counsel to see the leader of the Shi’ite sect is the reason for the adjournment.
He said he and Yusuf Ali (SAN) met with the Director General of the Directorate of the Security Services on 16 March, 2016 who assured them that they alongside counsel to the Shi’ite members will be able to see the leader of the movement Monday by 12 noon.
“I am now being forced by this development to try your lordship’s patience again for the last time for another adjournment in the absolute interest of justice,” Yunus added.
Other counsel representing groups who also submitted memorandum concurred with the position of Yunu, except for the counsel to the army who had wished the adjournment could be shifted until after the Easter break, but it was turned down.
The commission adjourned from the inaugural sitting on the 22nd February to the 24th, then to the 29th and to 7th March and to the 14th March, and again to March 21st and now to the 23rd March, 2016 all due to the inability of the counsel to the Shi’ites to see the leader of the movement.
Meanwhile, counsel to the Shi’ite sect were not present at Monday’s sitting and no memorandum has been submitted and neither was any reason whether verbal or written given for their absence.
However, this is fifth week out of the six weeks given to the commission to complete its assignment and submit reports.