Shiites sue Kano government for alleged breach of fundamental rights

Members of the Shiites movement under the aegis of the All Jafariyya Development Association (AJDA) have taken the Kano State government to a Federal High Court seeking the enforcement of their fundament rights to life and religion.

The affidavit filed before the court in Kano by its Chairman, Abdullahi Alhassan Adamu also sought for fair hearing, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, peaceful assembly and association, as well as freedom of movement.

He said the court should order the state government to ensure their freedom from discrimination as contained in the sections 33, 36 (1), 40, 41 and 42 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He also relied on the reliefs contained in the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Enforcement Procedure and Ratification Act) Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 in enforcing the fundamental rights of members of the Association against the government.

The group included the state Commissioner of Police, and Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice as second and third respondents in the case. The applicant stated on the affidavit that “On October 10,2016 between 10.00pm and 12:30pm when members of the association were holding a procession along Obasanjo Road, Abattoir Street, Koki in Kano Metropolis, to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Husain bin Ali (grandson of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Nigerian Police, Kano Command descended on them and opened fire with AK47 rifles that resulted to the killing of one of their members”.

“Also on November 14, 2016 at Karfi along Zaria Road Kano, some members of the association were holding a peaceful procession to commemorate 40 days of the martyrdom of Husain bin Ali when the police again opened fire on them and killing some members of the association.”

He accused the respondents of discriminating against members of the association and their right to peaceful gathering.

Meanwhile, members of the association are asking the court to order the respondents to pay the applicants N500 million as compensation for violating their fundamental rights.