The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami (SAN), has urged the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to formalize its request for the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (also known as Shiites) Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The Special Adviser to the AGF on Media and Publicity, Salihu Isah, stated this in a statement made available yesterday.
He added that Malami gave the advice on how to press for the detainees’ release during a visit to him on Tuesday by a delegation of NSCIA put together by its National President and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
El-Zakzaky and some members of the group are being detained after they clashed with soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria in December 2015.
The NSCIA 10-man delegation led by Prof. Daud Noibi, who is also the Chairman of the NSCIA Contact Committee, was said to have requested the AGF to intervene on the release of El-Zakzaky and how injured members of his group could be given medical attention.
The delegation also sought the AGF’s intervention so that members of the group who died in the clash could be given befitting burial.
But the AGF, was said to have in response, urged the Council to formalise its demands to the Federal Government because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The AGF said, “I will do whatever I can within the confines of the law to see how an amicable resolve can be achieved. So when your demands are formalised, I will treat and facilitate it to the appropriate quarters accordingly.”
The AGF further disclosed that though he would not engage in blame games, it was however necessary for clerics to teach their followers on good conduct and how to co-exist with their neighbours.
He said, “As Muslims, we know what is obtainable in Islam especially in the area of rights, individual rights, especially rights of way. As Muslims, we have a collective responsibility to create awareness through our preaching on tolerance and compliance according to the dictates of Islam.”
Malami also described the clash between the Shiites and the soldiers in Zaria as unfortunate and sad, saying that the incident was avoidable.
According to Malami, it is important to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident to prevent its reccurrence in the future.
Speaking earlier, Noibi told the AGF that when the Army/Shiites clash occurred, the Council quickly summoned a meeting presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto with a view to seeking ways for a sheathe of sword by the warring parties.
He requested that the composition of the Commission of Inquiry to be set up by the Federal Government to include representatives of the NSCIA among others.
Other members of the delegation were the National Secretary of the Council, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Malam Yunus Ustaz (SAN), Prof. Dahiru Yahaya, Malam Musemil Hanga, Prof. Ibrahim Suleiman, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, Malam Ishaq Sanni, Imam Ahmad, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Tsav (rtd), and Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN).
