*Court Proceedings Blocked from Journalists and Rights Groups
*Injured Detainees Arrested While Receiving Treatment
*Three Died in SARS Office Abuja
*Soldiers Killed One in Prison, Two Still Missing
*Detainee Requires Brain Surgery, Left Unconscious for Over a Year
*Continuous Failed Bail Attempts and Judicial Delays
By Ammar M. Rajab
Sixty Shiites have been detained since July 2019, spending over five years in Kuje prison without justice in the Federal Capital Territory.
Journalists and rights groups have been banned from attending court proceedings. Among the detainees are minors, and many of them were injured, having been arrested at a hospital while receiving treatment for gunshot wounds inflicted by Nigerian police during a Free Zakzaky protest at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja.
Several attempts to secure bail have failed, as the judge has not permitted a bail application. One detainee, Usman Wadata, needs brain surgery and has been unconscious for over a year without receiving treatment.
What Transpired?
people, from July 22 to 25. “We were all taken to SARS office and detained in unpleasant conditions,” the source said.
Muhammad Abubakar, an independent investigator, told our reporter that he learned over a hundred people were arrested during the incident, but most were later released, with 63 people still detained who seemed associated with the Islamic Movement. At least 16 detainees needed medical attention due to gunshot wounds, severe beatings, and more.
Three Died in SARS Office Abuja
During the heat of the event, three members of the Islamic Movement died in SARS custody, reportedly due to lack of proper treatment. “They lacked proper medical attention from the authorities, which resulted in their deaths,” Abubakar said. He added that most of them were arrested at Abuja University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, where they were receiving treatment for gunshot wounds when the police took them away to their cells.
Shiites in Court
On November 28, 2019, after five months in SARS custody, the Nigerian police took 60 members of the Islamic Movement to court. The first court proceeding was adjourned to December 10, 2019. The accused were taken to the Federal High Court, Court 45 Apo, in Abuja. Initially, the police charged them with nine offenses, later increase the charges to 14.
Bala Dakum was the first defendant's lawyer, but later, lawyers under the leadership of Dr. Yushau Bn Shuaib met with him and continued the defense. Reports show there were 25 court proceedings throughout the case, and 33 times the court did not sit.
Our source stated that the defense has been completed, but the judge rejected the no-case submission application by the defense lawyer.
Court Proceedings Blocked from Journalists and Rights Groups
Journalists and rights groups were consistently blocked from attending court proceedings. The judge warned against their presence and later banned them entirely. Abubakar, who has been following the case, told our reporter that the judge seemed afraid and moved the court proceedings to Kuje prison.
Judge Suleiman Bolaji Belgore has been accused of repeatedly adjourning the case, delaying justice. “The judge seems afraid. He moved the court proceedings to Kuje prison. The proceeding is not taking place in court but in prison,” Abubakar said.
Soldiers Killed One in Prison, Two Still Missing
Usman, Fatima Usman Sabo, Hajara Huseini, Abdullahi Abubakar, Shamsu Buhari, Umar Abubakar, Ibrahim Shehu, Mohammed Mohammed, Musa Muhammad, Iliyasu Yakubu, Imran Ayuba, Aminu Suleiman, Mohammed Abubakar, Jibril Usman, Kamaludden Mikailu, Muhammad Wadata, Muhammad Kamisu, Musa Hamisu, Aliyu Musa, Hamza Mahdi, Adamu Usman, Kabiru Umar, Rabiu Habib, Aliyu Adam, Muhammad Aliyu, Ibrahim Sani, Sani Musa, Abubakar Adam, Ayuba Ridwanu, Mahadi Tukur, Kamar Umar, Ibrahim Khalid, Abdullahi Musa, Muhammad Abdullahi, Bakir Jabir, Ahmed Mohammed, Aliyu Abdullahi, Usman Khamisu, Mahadi Bello, Ummulkhulsum Isma’il, Kamalu Usman, Zayyanu Usman, Ahmed Abdullahi, Ansar Y. A. Ansar, Ahmed Adamu, Yahaya Abdullahi, Hawa’u Adamu, Nura S. Salihu, Hawa’u Aminu, Isah Alfa Isah, Mohammed Sani, Mohammad Ishaq, Ammar Dayyabu, Isah Ahmed, Ali Idris, Ahmad Abdullahi, and Muhammad Ibrahim.
Sani Abdullahi, a Human Rights activist in Abuja, in an interview with Daily Struggle, opined: “As we mark the fifth year of the detention of 60 Shiites, including minors and injured protesters, the sense of injustice remains palpable. This prolonged captivity starkly reveals the pressing need for judicial reform and stronger human rights protections.
“Keeping these individuals behind bars for so long not only violates legal norms but also deepens societal rifts and fosters bitterness. This somber anniversary should remind us of the crucial role that justice and empathy play in governance. Addressing the plight of these detainees is essential to restoring faith in our legal system and beginning the healing process for the affected community,” he concluded.
Several attempts to contact the Nigeria Police Force failed, as our reporter's calls were not received by the spokesman of the Police Force Headquarters at the time of publishing this report.
This reporting was completed with the support of the Citizens for Justice and Accountability (CJA).
0 Comments