Iran Backs Sheikh Zakzaky, IMN In Nigeria Islamisation Plot?

Is Iran backing the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky in the alleged Nigeria islamisation plot?

The Federal Government obviously feels so as contained in the counter-affidavit it had filed in response to a motion by the IMN.

The Islamic body is challenging the July 16 order of a Federal High Court proscribing the group.

The FG had in requesting for the proscription order, which it hinged on the provisions of section 1 sub section 2 (a-b) and section 2 sub section 1 (a-c) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment) Act 2013, accused the group of acts of terrorism.

A spokesman of the IMN, Abdullahi Musa dismissed the claim by the FG as of an Islamisation Plot as “mere allegation” which he said IMN lawyers will deal with in court and the group would still reacted to later.

“It shows that this is agenda of Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia said in a recent interview that one of his achievements is the detention of Zakzaky,” he added.

Reacting, the Iranian Embassy in Abuja declined comment on the claim, directing our reporters to the Federal Government and the IMN.

“We don’t have any reaction. Actually, it doesn’t depend on us, you should ask from the FG and Sheikh Zakzaky,” an embassy official said.

Justice Nkeonye Maha has fixed September 11 for the hearing of the motion challenging the proscription order filed by counsel to the IMN, Femi Falana (SAN).

The Eagle recalls that in July a bloody clash between members of the Shiites group and the police in Abuja, had claimed the lives of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Federal Capital Territory Command, Usman Umar; a Channels Television journalist, Precious Owolabi; and scores of Shiites.

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Before then, the Shiites had for over two years been regularly protesting, especially  in Abuja, to demand the release of El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat.

But the authorities reacted by designating the activities of the Shiites sect in any part of Nigeria as acts of terrorism and illegality. The Islamisation Plot allegation is still a contentious issue in the country.