The Arewa Hope Foundation has faulted what it described as attemp by
counsel to the Shiite sect, Femi Falana to cast aspersions on the
composition and work of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry set up by
the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to probe into the Army, Shiite
Clash.
The group which was reacting to a purported letter written by the human
rights lawyer to Kaduna state Attorney General said Mr Falana was only
trying to pre-empt the final report of the committee which may have
indicted the Shiite group.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, president of the group, Comrade
Muhammadu Ibrahim wondered why Falana would be calling for the prosecution
of soldiers involved in the clash when the report of the panel is yet to
be released
Ibrahim expressed concern that no one seems to be talking about justice
for families of slained and injured personnel of the Nigerian Army.
He said, “It is however well known that contrary to claims that they
boycotted the commission’s sitting to protest its ability to be impartial,
Mr Falana and his client were saving face as they could not have face the
revelations made about the atrocities, heinous crimes and the violent
reputation of their sect.”
He said what Falana and his client were trying to do is that of the
aggressor playing the victim.
He said, “we respect the right of every individual to be represented by a
counsel of his choice irrespective of his crime. However, the attempt by
Mr. Femi Falana to use clandestine means at not only defending his clients
but to secure a favourable judgement through the back door is
unprofessional, irresponsible and a gross abuse of the well laid down
legal and judicial practice all over the world.
“His letter to the Kaduna AG is one of his recent penmanship aimed at
harassing the Nigerian Army and its leadership, which tends to support the
reported Iranian $100 million report. As solicitor to IMN he knows better
than to also use other platforms and unconnected national issues to
demonise the military if his clients sincerely have a case.
“We raise these concerns about Falana and Islamic Movement of Nigeria
(IMN) today because we know it is the right thing to do. In the early
years of Boko Haram, some lawyers made windfall of cash from freeing the
extremists on technicalities whenever they were arrested and charged to
court. It is well known that those so released became even more vicious in
their hatred of the country and in the attacks they later staged.
“The IMN has similarly militarised, with video evidence made by them of
their fighters in training as evidence, so Nigerians should be aware of
what Mr Femi Falana (SAN) is trying to unleash on the country”.