The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and punish Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for alleged genocide against the state’s Shi’ites Muslim minority.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, the group’s lawyer, Bala Dakum, accused el-Rufai of genocide and crimes against humanity since taking office in 2015.
He said: “Our clients have witnessed reigns of terror and unprovoked attacks since the infamous Zaria pogrom, wherein about 1000 innocent Shiite Muslims were killed.
“Many of them lost their lives in the course of exercising their rights to freedom of religion, peaceful assembly and expression, which are all guaranteed under Sections 38, 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The unabated, deliberate and well-calculated machinations by el-Rufai to ensure that the Shiites are extinct in Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna, his homestate, compelled us to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC).”
He stated that the group had already petitioned the ICC in this regard, adding that the court was also urged to investigate and prosecute former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd. ), and all commissioners of police who served in Kaduna State beginning in 2015, when el-Rufai assumed office as governor.
Dakum claimed that Buratai and all police commissioners who worked in el-Rufai’s eight-year government were strongly suspected of assisting in the conduct of the aforementioned crimes.
Bala consequently encouraged the next government not to offer el-Rufai any federal appointments, as the Muhammadu Buhari-led government did with Buratai, in order to avoid casting a negative light on the country.