Falana, Ezekwesili, others to commence daily sit-out over killing of Shiite members, El-Zakzaky's detention

macfranc007 January 17, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- Some Nigerians will commence a daily sit-out in Abuja to demand the unconditional release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria

- The daily sit-out is being organised by a group, the Concerned Nigerians

- The sit-out will begin on Wednesday, January 17, by 9am at the Unity Fountain

Senior lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, and the former minister of education, Obiageli Ezekwesili will join a number of notable Nigerians to protest the killing of three members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites.

These Nigerians will commence a daily sit-out at the Unity Fountain, Abuja on Wednesday, January 17.

The daily sit-out convened by a group, Concerned Nigerians, will seek among others, the unconditional release of the leader of IMN, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, his wife Hajia Zeena and other members of the Shiite group.

El-Zakzaky, his wife and other members of his group have been in custody of the State Security Services (SSS) since December 2015, despite an order given by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court for his release.

A statement signed by the publicity secretary of the Concerned Nigerians, Theophilus Agada, said the daily sit-out will commence at 9am and end at 11am everyday.

Agada said the daily sit-out is open to the general public.

He said: "Just last week, three members of the IMN were killed in Abuja by the police for carrying out peaceful protest which is a fundamental right. Attacks on peaceful Shiites’ processions and protests have continued unabated.

"As Concerned Nigerians, we can longer remain silent in the face of these dastard acts of impunity especially the recent attacks on Shiites in Abuja last week," Agada noted.

He added that some organisations and notable Nigerians have been invited to act as observers for the duration of the sit-out.

Those invited include: Femi Falana, Festus Keyamo, representative of Justice Awa Nana Daboya of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; country director, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA); Stephen M. Haykin, USAID; Auwal Ibrahim MUSA, AG. West Africa Civil Society Organization Forum; Dr. Nelson Magbagbeola, ECOWAS Parliament; Head, Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross; Dr. Samuel Bwalya, Country Director UNDP; Rep – President ECOWAS Commission and the Head, ActionAID Nigeria.

Also expected at the daily sit-out are: Human Rights Officer US Embassy, Human Rights Officer Canadian Embassy, Head of Mission European Union, Rep UNHCR, Head, Peace and Justice Committee, Head, Macarthur Foundation, Ben Mellor, DFID, Head, Civil Liberty Organization, Human Rights Officer British High Commission, Head, Amnesty International Nigeria and the Country Director, Agence Francaise de Development (AFD).

Others are: Country Director and Coordinating Director for west Africa Integration Program, WorldBank; Head, Canadian International Development Agency; Head, Centre for the Development of Civil Society; Head, Clinton Foundation; Head, Pathfinder International; Charles Oputa, OurMumuDonDo; Oby Ezekwesili; Country Director, British Council Nigeria and Head, International Republican Institute (IRI).

NAIJ.com earlier reported that 39 members of the IMN were remanded in prison over alleged unlawful assembly.

The detained persons were arrested by the police on Monday, January 8, around the National Mosque, Abuja, for the disturbance of public peace.

They were first detained at the Wuse Police Station, before they were charged to the magistrate court in Wuse.

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