Govt asks court to sentence 50 Shiite members to death

dimeji akinloye

April 21, 2016 5:53 PM

The State government accused the suspects of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, culpable homicide, disturbance of public peace and wrongful restrain.

Members of the Shiite Movement in Nigeria protesting in kaduna

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The government had filed a five-count charge against the accused before Justice David Wyom.

In the petition, Counsel to the government, Mr Bayero Diri said that the offences are punishable under Sections 97, 221, 102, 106 and 225 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of Kaduna State 1991.

The government said that the offence was committed between December 12 and 14, 2015 in Zaria.

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It alleged that the suspects among other things shot dead one Cpl. Yakubu Dankaduna of the Nigerian Army "with a gun when he alighted from the convoy to disperse the IMN members."

Section 102 of the penal code prescribes death sentence for such offence.

The prosecution told the court that they intend to present 39 witnesses.

The plea of the accused persons was not taken as the Judge adjourned sitting till May 16.

Pulse recalls that the 50 suspects were among the 265 persons currently in custody, who were arrested during the Shiites clash with the Army on Dec. 12 and Dec. 14, 2015.

dimeji akinloye