Court Fined Police N100m For Killing ‘free-Zakzaky’ Protester

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

A Federal High Court, Abuja, has awarded an N100 million fine against the Inspector-General of Police over an allegation bordering on the arrest and killing of Ja’afar Muhammad, a member of Free Zakzaky protesters in Abuja.

The Court ruled that the Inspector General of Police and the Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital release the corpse of a ‘free-Zakzaky’ protester to his family for burial.

According to the judgement by Justice Z.B Abubakar, On May 22, 2023, he declared that the arrest and killing of one Ja’afar Muhammad, one of the unarmed protesters is unlawful by the police.

A statement by the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky revealed that Muhammad was shot by the police during a peaceful protest.

Recall, the incident occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, in July 2019.

Muhammad however died from the injuries after the police took him from the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital, where he was receiving treatment, to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad cell in Garki, where he was denied medical care.

“The court granted an order directing the Inspector-General of Police and the Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital to release the corpse of Ja’afar Muhammad to his family for immediate burial by Islamic rites.

“The court also granted an order directing the Inspector-General of Police to pay the applicant the sum of N100,000,000 for the unlawful detention and killing of Ja’afar Muhammad,” the statement added.