By Luka Binniyat & Mayen Etim

KADUNA—THE alleged inability of the legal counsel to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, to gain access to its leader, Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky, yesterday stalled the sitting of the Kaduna State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the December 2015 clash between the Nigerian Army the IMN.

This came as the Spokesman of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa, told Vanguard that IMN would not honour the invitation of the Commission if Zakzaky was not freed to give the brief of the IMN.

File Photo: Army-Shi’ites clash in Zaria, Kaduna State

The Commission had at its inaugural sitting on Monday been unable to proceed with the hearing following complaint from the IMN counsel, Mr. Maxwel Kyon that he had been unable to meet with the leader of the IMN, Zakzaky, a core character in the conflict. Kyon appeared before the Commission yesterday and told the Commission that he was still unable to meet Zakzaky to prepare for the appearance of the IMN and  pleaded for two weeks’ adjournment to enable him get access to his client.

He claimed the Directorate of State Services, DSS had refused him access to Zakzaky.

Counsel to the Nigerian Army, Mr. Abba Audu, however opposed the two weeks adjournment arguing that  it was untenable, going by the lifespan of the Commission.

Similarly, counsel to the Commission, Usman Yunus Ustaz, SAN, objected the plea, saying that two weeks was too long to be granted since the Panel had six weeks to conclude its sitting.

Ruling on the matter, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Garba, said: “We are adjourning till February 29, to enable you get access to your client, and whether you get access to him or not, you have to report back to the Commission so that we can continue with the proceedings”.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa told Vanguard IMN still stood by its earlier demand as condition for its appearance before the Commission.