LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Police in Zaria, Kaduna State have released about 67 vehicles to members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites.
The development followed the judgment of Kaduna State High Court which directed the defendants to release to the Plaintiffs (IMN) their respective vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles, allegedly confiscated since 2015.
In an interview in Zaria, Mark Abu, counsel for the plaintiffs, said this was an execution of the judgment of the Kaduna State High Court, which directed the police to release to his clients their respective vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles.
”We were at the MTD Police Station Zaria to witness the release of movable properties of my clients. On 9 November, 2022, Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court entered judgment in favour of my clients on the strength of the affidavit evidence and exhibits,” stated Mr Abu.
He added,”After obtaining the judgment, the order of the court was served on the commissioner of police, who is the first defendant in the case.”
Counsel to the Plaintiffs, who confirmed the receipt of the vehicles from the Police, said that: “the number of the vehicles for releasee filed in the court processes were a lot more than the vehicles they met at the police station.
“The vehicles on ground are just 67 but they are supposed to be more than that in number and the vehicles here were vandalized.”
“On the disparity in the number of vehicles in the court documents and those physically in custody of the police, we are keeping our options close to our chest at the moment.”
“We will discuss with our clients on the options available and the one we will explore,’’ Abu said.
However, the police officer who supervised the release of the vehicles to the plaintiff declined comments on the matter, stressing that he was not authorised to do so.
On 15 December, 2021, the plaintiffs (Mohammed-Auwal Yakubu and 77 others), who are members of the Shi’ite group, filed a writ of summons against the police commissioner and attorney general of Kaduna.
The process was hinged on an order of the Kaduna State High Court directing the Defendants to release unto the Plaintiffs their respective vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles; N4m general damages and cost of the suit.”
Vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles were in the custody of the Defendants at M.T. D. Police Station in Zaria, Kaduna State since 2015, according to the writ.
