The Islamic Movement in Nigeria yesterday criticised the trial of 291 of its members inside the Kaduna Central Prison.

A statement by the president of the Shia’s Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa, he wondered why a Kaduna State Magistrate Court would sit inside the Kaduna Central Prison, try 291 of its members that had been languishing in jail for the past two months.

He said some of the charges levelled against them were, illegal assembly, causing bodily harm, public disturbance and possession of firearms.

The group rejected the way and manner the court had its first sitting in prison.

“The court ought to have offered the general public its reason for the unusual sitting in prison, but it did not. For the court to hide under the guise of ‘security reasons’ for its sitting in prison is a travesty of justice, since justice as they say, should not only be done, but seen to be done.”

“We object to the trial becoming a secret trial because under the law, trial of the charges against the brothers of the Islamic Movement should be held in an open court where the public can witness it. What happened yesterday in Kaduna Prison is akin illegality.’’

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