Court in Nigeria Dismisses Case Against 48 Shi'ites Muslim Brothers For Participating In Free Zakzaky Protests..

By Abdullahi I Wasagu
An Abuja magistrate court in Nigeria sitting in Wuse zone 6, Abuja, has yesterday, Monday the 7th May, 2018 dismissed the case against 48 brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria charged with sundry offences simply because they participated in free Zakzaky processions in Abuja some months ago.

When the case of Commissioner of Police Vs Sani Aliyu & 47 others was called for hearing, all the accused persons were present in court, as were the lawyers standing for them. However, the prosecutors where nowhere to be found.

At that juncture, the defence lawyers asked the court to strike out the case for lack of diligent prosecution, relying on section 351 of Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The court duly struck out the case and dismissed all those standing trial in the case.

It will be recalled that those standing trial in this case were arrested sometimes in January this year after participating in Free Zakzaky processions in Abuja.

This is also not the first time that members of the Islamic Movement were being freed in similar circumstances in Abuja after prosecuting police officers failed to show up for the case, having arrested people for free Zakzaky protests.

Of the nine different cases before this court alone, five have now been dismissed, leaving four.
Keep a date with us as we update you on this front.

freed by abuja court