Following an order declaring the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as an unlawful group, the Kaduna State government has ordered the immediate arrest and subsequent prosecution of its Spokesman, Ibrahim Musa.
This is contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor (Media and Publicity), Samuel Aruwan, yesterday. According to the statement, an order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in Kaduna State went into effect on Friday, October 7, 2016, reiterating that violation of this order attracts penalty of imprisonment for seven years or a fine or both, according to sections 97a and 97b of the Penal Code.The statement lamented that, “ a few hours after the commencement of the Order, the said Ibrahim Musa admitted to membership of an unlawful society and identified himself as its spokesman in widely publicized statements. This is deemed as a deliberate and determined affront to the order, and the law has to take its course. “The Commissioner of Police has been directed to ensure the arrest to enable prompt prosecution by the Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice. “All security agencies in the state have been directed to vigorously enforce the law, and demonstrate clear resolve by arresting the said Ibrahim Musa, who is further advised to report himself to the nearest police station or any of the security agencies. “Government cannot allow the laws of the state to be wantonly tested and confronted by any one or group who might have the mistaken belief that they are above the law.” The Kaduna State Government , the statement noted, “wishes to reiterate that it fully respects freedom of religion and other rights as guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution. The same Constitution imposes an obligation on government to secure the state and protect every citizen against infringement of their rights by others. “Drawing on powers vested by Section 45(1) of the Constitution, and Section 97a of the Penal Code, the governor signed an order declaring the IMN as an unlawful society in the interest of public order and to protect the rights and freedoms of all persons in Kaduna State.”Meanwhile the group in a statement has cried out that some of their members have been since been arrested by the government. In a statement signed by the President Media Forum of IMN, Ibrahim Musa, the group said: “The Kaduna state government has today (yesterday) gone ahead to trample on the rights of people who were taking part in their religious duty in Kaduna state in scandalous violation of all known sane laws. “This is pursuant to the purported ban placed on the IMN, which itself is in contradiction to the sections of the Nigerian Constitution that guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate one’s religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”
Islamic Movement of Nigeria
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