Thirty-eight members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria arrested on Tuesday for invading the National Assembly have been arraigned by the police.
Members of the movement, otherwise known as Shi’ites, who protested at the premises of the NASS, on Wednesday wounded nine policemen and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The 38 out of the 40 arrested were on Thursday, arraigned before three Magistrates in Abuja, for criminal conspiracy, mischief, unlawful assembly, obstructing a public official, disturbing public peace, rioting armed with deadly weapons and causing grievous hurt.
They were charged under sections 97, 326,180, 149,107, 243, 113 and 267 of the Penal Code.
According to the police, the accused persons snatched a gun from one Insp. Ahmed Sani and caused grievous hurt on SP Umar Abdullahi, Insp. Ahmed Sani, Cpls. Mohammed Sarki, and Joseph Abutu.
Ten of the accused persons were arraigned before Magistrates’ Court 2, Wuse Zone 6, presided over by Mohammed Ibrahim where they pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
The remaining twenty-eight who were arraigned before the Magistrates’ Court 3, Wuse Zone 6 and Court 13, Wuse Zone 3, presided over by Magistrates Ahmed Adejumo and Ralphael Egbo, respectively, were remanded in prison custody, though they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Two other sect members were screened and released.
The cases have been adjourned to July 18, 2019.
