Mr Sunday Attah, who was attacked and wounded by some protesting members of the Shiite Sect in April 2018 has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Nigerian government.
Specifically, Mr Atta wants the court to declare the Shiite Group, otherwise known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a terror organisation following the violent nature of their protests within the Federal Capital Territory and other Northern parts of the country.
The demand by Mr Atta to have IMN labelled a terrorist organization was contained in a motion exparte filed before the court, dated August 29, 2018.
The application was filed by Attah’s lawyer, Mr Amobi Nzelu, and marked FHC/ABJ/930/2018.
By the motion, Attah wants the court to grant him leave to seek for the issuance of an order of mandamus compelling the respondents, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector -General of Police to proscribe or categorize the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiite movement) as a terrorist organisation.
An affidavit deposed to by one Ikechukwu Godswill Nwaozichi, averred that the plaintiff, sometimes in April 2018, while he was returning from a journey, was attacked by the sect members and injuries were inflicted on him.
The desponent also told the court that following the attack on the Chief of Army Staff and the wanton killings that happened thereafter, a Judicial Commission of Inquiry was set up to look into the matter and after the commission of inquiry sat and having taken evidence turned in their report in July 2016.
“That in the said report, the atrocities committed by this sect were highlighted and same qualified them to be categorized as a terrorist group.”
A copy of the report was attached to the exparte motion.
The plaintiiff’s affidavit stated that the sect has constituted themselves into a body that wilfully disobey the law, assault non-members and cause nuisance to other road users.
“That the 1st respondent, who is the Chief Law Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the statutory powers under the Terrorism Act to commence a legal action with a view to legally categorizing the sect as a terrorist group.
“That the behaviour, conduct, act of the said sect has become a threat to the corporate existence of this country.
“That the activities of the said sect is more criminally pronounced than that of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)”.
In support of the motion, the plaintiff pleaded video tapes of the clashes between the group and security agencies in and outside Abuja and certified copies of white paper report issued by the Kaduna State Government which the sect has not challenged in court until the time of filling the action.
No date has been fiixed for the exparte motion.
