El-Zakzaky: Leave Shiites, Go After Herdsmen, Miyetti Allah – Ozekhome Tells Buhari

Constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome has urged President Muhammadu Buhari go after Miyetti Allah and suspected Fulani herdsmen killing Nigerians.

He made this known while speaking on the move by the federal government to proscribe the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites.

Naija News had reported that the federal government on Friday obtained the necessary court order to proscribe the Islamic Movement Organisation as a terrorist group.

The ex parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2019 was filed in the name of the “Attorney-General of the Federation” before the court on Thursday.

The matter was argued on behalf of the government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata.

However, the group had no representatives in court on Friday.

Justice Nkeonye Maha issued the order in a ruling in which she also designated the activities of the Shiite organisation in any part of Nigeria “as acts of terrorism and illegality”.

Speaking to the New Telegraph, he described the proscription as highly discriminatory and unconstitutional.

He said: “What group could be more terrorist than the herdsmen and their known anchor, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association? This has held Nigeria down by the jugular for years, killing, maiming, burning, raping and turning Nigeria into a crimson field of blood.

“Until the government bans and outlaws these kinds of groups, it is certainly not serious.

“The Shi’ite group is a religious group just like the President’s Sunni group. It is not an association that could be banned. They are demanding for the release of their leader still kept in government dungeon in spite of several court orders.

“Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution makes Nigeria a secular state. You can’t ban religion, a people’s belief.

“There is also freedom of thought, conscience and religion in Section 38, while Sections 40 and 41 allow for freedom of movement and association.

“The Constitution is ruthlessly being shredded by an intolerant and overbearing civilian dictatorship.”