Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has inaugurated the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi’ite, tasking the members to unravel the alleged foreign and domestic influence that might have contributed to the crisis.
Addressing members of the Commission and others present at the banquet Hall of the Government House, El-rufai who read out the terms of reference said, “They are to determine the immediate causes of the confrontation and the historical circumstances surrounding it, as well as contributory factors and remote causes.”
El-Rufai charge the Commission, “to review all other factors, issues or matters, including the alleged involvement of foreign and domestic actors or their influence or instigation, that may have contributed to the incident or may conduce to such incidents in the future and make recommendations thereto.
“To ascertain the number of persons killed, wounded or missing during the Clashes and identify actions and omissions of relevant persons, traditional and religious institutions, Federal and State actors and emergency response agencies before, during and after the Clashes.
“To determine the evolution of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, its organization, structure, membership, growth, assets, resources, culture and practices, and how any or all of these contributed to any engagement with the community, constituted authorities and the security agencies;
“To make recommendations as to actions to be taken, policies to be developed and implemented to ensure that acts and omissions that may have contributed or led to the clashes are pre-empted entirely or, where they occur, their negative effects are mitigated, in future,” saying, ”Government looks forward to receiving the interim and final reports of this Commission within six weeks after the first public sitting.”
The Governor insisted that the panel became necessary because, “for reasons of accountability and transparency, the State Government deems it right and proper to institute this Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the incidents. This will allow all parties to state their case and afford the public a fair and accurate accounting of the events.
“The government is especially concerned that all citizens take seriously their duty of allegiance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to respect the prerogatives of state institutions, to abide by the laws of the country and to exercise their freedom to practice their faith in ways that do not infringe on the rights of other citizens.
“Kaduna State bears too vividly the scars of the horrors that have been inflicted on it by ethno-communal and religious upheavals. We have a duty to promote peace, foster harmony, and end the legacy of division by ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone.
“Let it be clear that the Kaduna State Government is convinced that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry provides a chance to understand the events that happened, their background, establish casualties, assign responsibilities and make appropriate recommendations to the federal and state governments, so that such tragedies may be avoided in future.
“Those that wrongly believe that a federal government inquiry is necessary to satisfy them should note that under the 1999 Constitution, only State Governments can institute judicial commissions of inquiry in their states. The Federal Government can only do so in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
“Those that argue that a state level inquiry cannot invite, compel attendance and interrogate the criminal or administrative responsibility of federal actors are also wrong as the laws of Kaduna State apply to every person that is engaged in acts of omission or commission in our territory whether that person or group is military, paramilitary or civilian. Members of the Armed Forces, like all citizens, are subject to state and federal laws.”
Responding, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, said the members accepted the appointment because, “we consider it a national duty.”
He promised,” We are going to give each side that will appear before us the opportunity to say their own side of what happened and we are going to take this assignment given to us with all sense of seriousness and sincerity.”
He assured the governor that members of the Commission would be fair and just in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, “The Commission will abide by the oath of office taken because it is only through that, that we can get to the root of what happened and it is only then that we can make recommendations that if implemented can prevent similar incident from occurring not only in Kaduna State but the country as a whole. Because it is a problem that affects all part of the country even though it happened in Kaduna State.”
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