Group asks court to stop IMN spokesman from publishing a book

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET, has approached the state high court in Kaduna, seeking an order to stop the spokesman of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa, from publishing a book on the clash between the IMN and the Nigeria Army.

In the suit, the center said such publication is capable of jeopardising the ongoing trial of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, IMN leader.

Edward Omaga, the group’s lawyer, who spoke with journalists after filing the suit, described the move as an attempt to prove that El-Zakzakky and his followers are not guilty whereas the state is prosecuting him.

He said one cannot release a book for public consumption at the same time when issues are before the court of law as allowing same will be subjudice.

CESJET in an originating summons filed at the court sought determination whether by virtue of the report of the judicial commission of inquiry into the clash between IMN and the Nigeria army and the gazetted white paper emanating from it, whether the IMN was not proscribed and designated as a terrorist group and whether Ibrahim Musa is not by writing a book on the IMN attempting to commit an act of terrorism.

The centre is also asking the court for an order mandating the commissioner of police in Kaduna to arrest and prosecute the IMN spokesman for trying to publish the book entitled, “December 2015 Massacre of Shiites in Nigeria: Survivors accounts” which it says amounts to trying to dislodge the Nigerian government.

In the summons taken out by Omaga, the center pointed out that by virtue of the report of the Judicial commission of Inquiry and the white paper the IMN  has been proscribed stressing that by trying to launch a book on the IMN, Ibrahim Musa is trying to further the activities of the IMN which the centre described as ‘criminal.’

Omaga said the centre’s interest is in seeing that the security of the nation is not threatened under any guise.

He said it is significant that members of the public are not allowed to engage in activities capable of inciting the public against the government or rubbishing the temple of justice at any point.