Shi’ites are a terrorist group – court order

The Federal Government is actively taking steps to stop the activities of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ites. On Friday 26th July, The Federal Government obtained an order from a Federal High Court in Abuja to proscribe the Shiites’ organisation following an ex parte application marked FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2019 and filed in the name of the ‘Attorney-General of the Federation.’

The court order issued by Justice Nkeonye Maha designating the activities of the Shiite organisation in any part of Nigeria “as acts of terrorism and illegality”. It also restrained “any person or group of persons” from participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the IMN “under any name or platform” in Nigeria.

The Attorney-General of the Federation is expected “to publish the order proscribing the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in the official gazette and two national dailies”, to complete the process of proscribing the group.

The court said, “An order of this honourable court proscribing the existence and activities of the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in any part of Nigeria, under whatever form or guise either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called.

“An order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) under any other name or platform howsoever called or described in any part of Nigeria.

“An order directing the applicant (the AGF) to publish the order proscribing the respondent (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in the official gazette and two national dailies.”

The Federal Government filed the application before the court on Thursday, barely 72 hours after a protest led to a violent clash between the Islamic group and the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Federal Capital Territory Command, Usman  Umar, and a Channels Television journalist, Precious Owolabi, died in the clash.