Court slams N100m fines on police for unlawful arrest, killing of Shi’te protester
A division of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slammed a fine of N100 million on the Nigerian Police over the unlawful arrest, killing of a Shi’te protester, Ja’afar Muhammad.
The late Muhammed is a member of the movement operating under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
In its verdict, the Justice Z. B. Abubakar declared that the arrest of Muhammad by the Nigeria Police at Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital on July 22, 2019 and his killing on July 24, 2019 at SARS Abattoir, Abuja, are illegal, unlawful.
The court further described the act as gross violation of the deceased fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 33 (1) 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Fatima Aliyu Adam of the Academic Forum of the Islamic movement confirmed the developments in a press release dated 1st June, 2023.
Justice Z. B. Abubakar of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, while delivering the judgement on the case filed by Naziru Isah Abdullahi with suit number FHC/ABJ/CD/409/2020, stated that Naziru Isah has established that his brother Ja’afar Muhammad was shot by the Police, and as a result, he sustained injury while on a peaceful free Zakzaky protest at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on July 22, 2019. Ja’afar was taken to the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital for treatment.
While at the said hospital, Police allegedly stormed the hospital and took him to the SARS Cell, Abattoir, Garki, Abuja. While in police custody, Ja’afar Muhammad was not given any medical treatment, which led to his death on July 24, 2019.
The judge also stated that it was established that, upon the demise of Ja’afar Muhammad, his corpse was deposited at the Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja.
The Court granted an order directing the Inspector General of Police and the Medical Director of Asokoto District Hospital to release the corpse of Ja’afar Muhammad to his family for immediate burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The court also granted an order directing the Inspector General of Police to pay the applicant the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) only for the unlawful detention and killing of Ja’afar Muhammad.
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