The Judicial Commission of inquiry constituted by the Kaduna State Government to investigate the clash between the Nigeria Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as the Shi’ites group at its resumed sitting on Monday adjourned for the fifth time.
“The commission has considered the unexpected application by the counsel to the commission for yet another adjournment to enable counsel to the IMN have access to their leader,” Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Garba Lawal said.
“The inability of the counsel to the IMN to see the leader of the movement is the reason for the adjournment, now with the strong indication of the possibility of seeing him today (Monday), it is reasonable to grant a short adjournment.
“The commission has granted the application and proceedings adjourned till Wednesday, 23rd March, 2016 and to also take the presentation from the army,” he stated.
Earlier in his application, one of the leading counsels to the Commission, Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN), informed the Commission that efforts to get access to the leader of the Islamic Movement is beginning to yield positive result.
Usman explained that he met with the Director General of the Directorate of the Security Services on the 16th March, 2016, in the company of and Yusuf Ali (SAN) and they were assured they would be able to see the leader of the movement Monday by 12 noon alongside the counsel to the IMN.
“I am now being forced by this development to try your lordship patience again for the last time for another adjournment in the absolute interest of justice,” he submitted.
Other counsel representing groups who also submitted memorandum concurred with the position of the learned senior counsel to the commission 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.
It would be recalled that 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 counsels to the IMN to see the leader of the movement.
