- Freedom Fighters Ng
Abuja, Nigeria - A report authored by Fatima Aliyu Adam, representing the Islamic Movement under the leadership says that In a significant legal move, the Islamic Movement, led by Sayyid Ibraheem Ya'qoub El-Zakzaky, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government, specifically targeting the Attorney General of the Federation, the Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, and the Nigerian Army. The lawsuit is in response to the alleged assassination of Jibril Usman Sarki, a protester advocating for the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya'qoub El-Zakzaky.
Jibril Usman Sarki, an ardent follower of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya'qoub El-Zakzaky, was arrested in July 2019 for participating in the Free Zakzaky protest in Abuja. He was subsequently arraigned by the Police before Justice SB Belgore of the FCT High Court and remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre. Despite a bail application being filed in January 2020, Justice SB Belgore refused to entertain the motion, thereby denying Jibril Usman Sarki his right to appeal the bail application.
Tragically, in July 2022, Jibril Usman Sarki was reportedly killed in a brutal manner at the Kuje Correctional Centre by the Nigerian Army.
In response to this grave incident, on July 11, 2023, the Islamic Movement filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the case numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/951/2023. The suit seeks a declaration that the killing of Jibril Usman Sarki on July 5, 2022, was illegal, unlawful, null, and void. Additionally, the Islamic Movement demands a court order mandating the respondents to pay the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) to the family of Jibril Usman Sarki. The organization also seeks a formal apology from the respondents, which is to be published in two national daily newspapers.
The Islamic Movement, under the leadership of Sayyid Ibraheem Ya'qoub El-Zakzaky, aims to hold the government accountable for the alleged assassination and to seek justice for Jibril Usman Sarki and his family.
The case is expected to be closely watched, as it addresses fundamental issues of human rights and the exercise of lawful dissent in Nigeria. The outcome of this lawsuit may have significant implications for future cases involving the Islamic Movement and other activist groups in the country.
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, will now oversee the proceedings and render a verdict in due course.