El-Zakzaky: Civil Rights group writes AGF, insists on proscription of IMN

The federal government of Nigeria has been asked to proscribe without delay the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shi’ites.

A pro-democracy Civil Society Organisation known as Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), which made this call on Monday, said it has been observing with “disenchantment” how the Islamic extremists otherwise known as Shi’ites continue to breach national peace, cause mayhem and make life unbearable for innocent citizens.

The rights group vowed to drag the Attorney General of the Federation to court if it failed to take decisive action against the violent group.

A letter addressed to the AGF and signed Akan Augustine, Director of Research & Evaluation, of the group claimed that from the wealth of oral and documentary evidences made available to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Nasir El-Rufai to look into the clash that occurred between IMN and the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State between 12th – 14th December, 2015 as captured in its widely publicized final report (copy attached), IMN has never ceased to be a violent organization.

According to the letter obtained by our reporter on Monday, the group noted that history has shown that the “Muslim Brothers” which was an offshoot of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) transformed into IMN around 1994 and built a leadership that has been steadfast and deliberate in habitual acts of lawlessness and defiance of constituted authorities in Nigeria.

The letter partly reads.

Until Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky being the overall temporal and spiritual leader of IMN was tamed by security agencies following his failed attempt at assassinating the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T.Y Buratai in December, 2015, he was notorious to be in constant clash with all the successive governments of Nigeria from Shagari through Buhari (as Military Head of State), Babangida to Abacha and throughout the 4th Republic.

El-Zakzaky believes from the beginning that there was no peaceful way for Muslims to attain their need for Sharia implementation in Nigeria. The transformation of El-Zakzaky’s activism to the Shiites Creed did not change this outlook as originally borrowed from the 1978/79 Iranian Revolution. The impact of this revolution shocked the entire world as it was unexpected, and had the capacity of influencing the attitude of the Muslims in the world, including of course Nigeria. That was because Imam Khomeini of the Islamic Revolutionary Vanguard, who toppled government at that time and declared Iran as an “Islamic Republic”, made it a fundamental part of his foreign policy to spread the Iranian revolutionary ideas to other Muslim countries to imitate and execute. In the words of Khomeini;

“We should try to export our revolution to the (Muslim) world. We should set aside the thought that we do not export our revolution, because Islam does not regard various Islamic countries differently and is the supporter of all the oppressed people of the world. On the other hand, all the superpowers and the great powers have risen to destroy us. If we remain in an enclosed environment we shall definitely face defeat. When we say we want to export our revolution, we do not want to do it with swords.”

With the Iranian revolution as the backdrop, El-Zakzaky indoctrinated the over 60,000 members of the IMN who owe absolute loyalty to him into believing that there is a need to change the secular government in Nigeria to one which solely receives commandments from Allah. Little wonder, members of IMN failed, refused and neglected to submit memorandum or make oral submission before the Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry in a matter where they were direct parties, even though they had ample opportunity to do so. Rather, their lawyers were quick to address a World Press Conference whilst proceedings were still ongoing at the Commission, alleging that the Nigerian Army used excessive force and violated the fundamental rights of some Shiites members in the course of restoring normalcy to the then affected areas in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Being the foregoing as it may, a careful reading of the combined provisions of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 establishes that IMN by its activities and characters ought to be proscribed and designated as a terrorist group just like Boko Haram and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). For purposes of clarity, we have identified the many infractions committed by IMN since it came into existence in Nigeria to wit;

Acts of Terrorism: Section 1 Subsection (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 prohibits all acts of terrorism and financing of terrorism while Section 1 Subsection (2) of the Act prescribes a maximum of death sentence for any person or body corporate who willingly commits an offence relating to terrorism either directly or indirectly within or outside Nigeria.

Terrorist Meetings: Suffices to state that El-Zakzaky has been arranging, managing and participating in meetings alongside members of IMN which is in his knowledge are connected with terrorism. This offence punishable pursuant to Section 4 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 which prescribes imprisonment for a term not less than 20 years.

Soliciting and giving support to terrorist groups for the commission of terrorism: The report of the Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry clearly indicates that El-Zakzaky receives funds from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon, Ghana and Niger Republic which he channels into rendering all manners of support to his followers. He also distributes Islamic literatures, proliferates arms and light weapons as well as incites members of IMN to commit terrorist acts with the aim of dislodging the government of Nigeria contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable upon conviction for a term not less than 20 years.

Harbouring terrorists or hindering the arrest of a terrorist: There are overwhelming evidence contained in the report of the Kaduna Judicial Commission of Inquiry to show that IMN is law unto itself. As it happened in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja recently, members of IMN are fond of confronting law enforcement agencies in order to rescue any of its members arrested or kept in custody in connection with acts of terrorism. This is a blatant breach of Section 6 the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the offence attracts imprisonment for a term not less than 20 years.

Provision of training and instruction to terrorist groups or terrorists: No doubt, Sheikh El-Zakzaky is notorious for training his guards popularly called Hurras in the practice of military exercise and in the making or use of explosives and other forms of lethal weapons without being authorized under the Nigerian laws to do so. This constitutes an offence under Section 7 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and carries 20 years as punishment upon conviction.

Provision of devices to a terrorist: Obviously, the petrol bombs and other explosives used by members of IMN during their clash with the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State in December, 2015 were all provided by their most revered leader El-Zakzaky with support from foreign funders and sympathizers as aforesaid. This is an offence under Section 9 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and is punishable with imprisonment for not less than 20 years.

Other offences linked to IMN touch on recruitment of persons to be members of terrorist groups, solicitation of property for the commission of terrorist acts, provision of facilities in support of terrorist acts, financing of terrorism and so on. See Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Sir, we submit that the above infractions are substantial enough to nail IMN as a terrorist group without much ado. As the situation stands, the refusal of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to proscribe IMN all along has contributed to the spread of terrorism in Nigeria. We are at a loss as to why the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice neither utilized the final report of the Kaduna Commission of Inquiry nor set up another panel to fully deal with an issue as sensitive as IMN at the national level even though he has the power to do so under our laws.

It is on record that the leadership of IMN and thousands of its followers have been jailed a number of times, but they remain adamant about converting Nigeria to an Islamic State at all cost. Unless and until the government develops the courage to tackle the excesses of El-Zakzaky and the confrontational, un-cordial, dramatic and deadly IMN at once, the much anticipated peace in Northern-Nigeria as a whole will remain a mirage. The contribution of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to the anti-terror efforts to make Nigeria safe again is quite commendable and must be sustained no matter whose ox is gored.

We therefore give the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice 72 (Seventy Two) hours ultimatum from the date hereof to activate the necessary statutory procedures with a view to proscribing IMN for setting up or pursuing acts of terrorism. In the event that this ultimatum expires without any positive actions taken, we shall not hesitate to drag the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice being the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria to a court of competent jurisdiction in order to compel him to do the needful in the interest of peace, national security and safety of innocent citizens who now live in fear of IMN.