By; Amos Tauna, Kaduna.
The inability of the legal counsel to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shi’ites) to have access to its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem ElZakzaky, stalled the sitting of the judicial Commission of inquiry into the clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Movement, forcing the Commission to adjourn sitting again in Kaduna.
The Commission had at its inaugural sitting on Monday adjourned its sitting till Wednesday following absence of the counsel for the Movement at the panel.
When the counsel to the Movement, Mr. Maxwel Kyon appeared before the Commission, he pleaded for two weeks adjournment to enable him get access to his client.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, asked the counsel to the Nigerian Army, Mr. Abba Audu whether he opposed the two weeks plea, he did not oppose the plea, saying that it was in the interest of justice.
The counsel to the Commission, Usman Yunus Ustaz (SAN), objected to the plea saying that two week was too long to be granted since the panel has only six weeks to conclude its sitting.
The Commission Chairman did not grant the plea but rather adjourned the sitting till Monday, February 29, as a grace for the counsel to get access to his client.
“We are adjourning till February 29, to enable you get access to your client, and whether you get access to him or not, you have to report back to the Commission so that we can continue with the proceedings.”
The Chairman of the commission said that the Islamic Movement had before now faulted the 13-man composition of the panel, saying some of its members were already against the Movement.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the adjournment, Zakzaky’s counsel, Mr. Maxwel Kyon disclosed that the embattled Shi’ites leader is in the custody of the Directorate of the State Security (DSS), adding that the Police and other security agencies are preventing him from having access to his client.
