The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement on Wednesday adjourned its public hearing to Monday.
The Chairman of the commission, Justice Muhammadu Garba, announced the adjournment following the request of Maxwell Kyon, the counsel to the movement’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Kyon had applied for two weeks adjournments to enable him have access to his client.
A member of the commission, Usman Yunus Ustaz (SAN), had objected to the request , saying that two weeks was too long as the panel had only six weeks to conclude its assignment.
The commission’s chairman rejected Kyon’s request and adjourned the sitting till Monday.
Garba said that the adjournment was to enable Kyon have access to El-ZakZaky who leads the group made up of Shiites.
“We are adjourning till Feb. 29 to enable you get access to your client, and whether you get access to him or not, you have to report back to the commission so that we can continue with the proceedings,” he said.
The commission was set up by the Kaduna State Government following the clash between soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff and members of El-ZakZaky-led Islamic group on Dec.12 in Zaria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sect had declined to submit a memorandum to the commission and rather demanded for access to their leader to guide them.
The commission at its inaugural sitting on Monday announced that it had received 105 memoranda from various interest groups and individuals.
The commission had adjourned to Wednesday after Monday’s inaugural sitting to allow the counsel and members of the sect to have access to their leader. (NAN)