Army-Shi’ite clashes: KDSG names Judicial Commission of Inquiry members

The Kaduna State Government has announced the composition of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clashes in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army in December 2015

This is contained in a statement in Kaduna on Saturday by Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry will be inaugurated, later in the week.

The commission has Justice Mohammed Garba, the presiding justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal as the Chairman.

Dr Bala Babaji, Director of the Centre for Islamic Legal Studies, Institute of Administration of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was also named as the Secretary to the Commission.

Among the members was Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, a former minister of Foreign Affairs, who was also an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and head of the UN Department of Political Affairs.

Aruwan said that the judicial commission was “established under Section 2 of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry Law, 1991.”

He also said that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai signed the instrument establishing the commission of inquiry, which is expected to submit its final report six weeks after its first public sitting.

Aruwan said the terms of reference mandate it “to determine the immediate causes of the clashes, examine the historical circumstances and contributory factors of the clashes.”

It would also “ascertain the number of persons killed, wounded or missing during the clashes “

It would “identify the actions of persons, institutions, federal and state actors, and determine whether such actions were necessary, appropriate and sufficient in the circumstances in which they occurred.

He said the state government “consulted widely with the governments of the 19 Northern States and the Federal Government.”

Aruwan this was done “in a bid to identify credible, independent and impartial persons knowledgeable in various aspects that the Inquiry is expected to cover.”

National Daily recalls that there was a bloody clash in Zaria between the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Nigerian Army from Dec. 12 to Dec. 14 , 2015