Shi’ite leader, El-Zakzaky not in our custody – Kaduna Prison

The authorities of the Kaduna Convict Prisonon Wednesday denied claims that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was in the prison.

The Controller of the Kaduna Prisons, Abubakar Argungu, who denied the claims, however, said 191 members of the Islamic movement were in the custody of the prison.

Argungu said, “We only have 191 followers of the Shi’ite sects in our custody. But we do not have their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky with us.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday that it will soon name members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the recent clash in Zaria between the Nigerian Army and Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

The government said in a statement issued by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, that the composition and terms of reference of the proposed commission had been concluded.

It added that efforts were being made to contact all the nominees for the membership of the JCI as well as secretariat and resource persons.

The statement read in part, “The Kaduna State Government has largely completed work on the composition and the terms of reference of the proposed Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

“However, the government is still engaged in the extensive consultations that are required prior to a formal announcement.

“Efforts are also being made to contact all the nominees for membership of the commission, as well as the secretariat and resource persons that will support the work of this important inquiry.”

The government explained that the holidays had made the process of contacting the members of the commission difficult.

“Therefore, the Kaduna State Government will be delaying the announcement of the membership of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry until early in the new year,” the statement said.

“Best efforts have been applied to ensure that the announcement is made within the two-week window envisaged when the decision to establish the commission of inquiry was made. But it has now emerged that a little more time is required.”