General in Nigeria Explains Death Penalties for Fake Trial

Major General-Gen. Zamani Lekwot published a book on religious violence in 1992. (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News)

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A former army general in Nigeria says the death penalty handed down to him after riots more than 30 years ago was the result of Muslim military leaders controlling a mock trial.

Major General-Gen. Zamani Lekwot, a Christian, speaking at the Nigerian Army Resource Center in Abuja on November 5 for the launch of his book “Judicial Terrorism”, said he was sentenced to death even though the courts declared his conviction fraudulent. He said he and other Christian leaders who were subjected to “judicial terror” were later released by divine providence.

Lekwot said the roots of the conflict between Christians and Muslims in the southern Kaduna state in 1992 began on February 6 of that year, when rioting broke out at a market in Zangon Kataf District, killing six people and destroying properties. The government established an investigation commission.

The commission’s report had not yet been published when an Islamic group in Zangon Kataf town petitioned the then Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dansuki, to do something about the Muslims killed in the market riot to prevent jihadist violence fueled by the faith. Lekwot said that a Muslim who kills or dies during jihad will go to heaven.

He said copies of the petition had been sent to the Kaduna governor, the emir of Zaria, other emirs and security agencies in the northern states.

“But suddenly on Friday, May 15, 1992, I was told that the petitioners had attacked the Afabwang village closest to me. atyap They took the village (traditional chiefdom of the Atyap people) to them and caused mayhem,” Lekwot said. “The news spread like wildfire and the entire community was emotionally moved, resulting in conflict that resulted in loss of life and property on both sides.”

Instead of ordering an investigation to establish the facts, 61 people, including tribal chiefs, senior priests and other prominent citizens, were arrested and imprisoned on the orders of the head of the military junta, General Ibrahim Babangida. Lekwot said the orders followed a surprise visit on May 26, 1992, when Babangida, whom Lekwot calls the presidential palace site Aso Rock Abuja, “cried and denounced those responsible for the destruction.” “This was the climactic story. atyapThe cruelty of Aso Rock. “No Hausa/Fulani man who started it all has been arrested.”

Lekwot said the military junta in power at the time tried to prosecute them twice. He said the first hearing included four charges: unlawful assembly, riot, armed insurrection and disturbing the peace.

“However, since the case was a baseless charade, the federation’s chief prosecutor’s office no investigation (the charges were dropped) and we were released but not acquitted,” Lekwot said. “Immediately afterwards, we were re-arrested and sent back to Kaduna prison on the orders of the presiding judge.”

In the second attempt, 18 more charges were added to the first four charges. no investigation “It was still there and it was very strange,” he said. Lekwot’s lawyers sought justice for him and other accused in the Kaduna high court.

“But Aso Rock shocked everyone by shamelessly confirming that the court was on a mission to send us to the gallows no matter what,” Lekwot said, adding that they were barred from appealing by Decree No. 1 on December 3, 1992. 55.

Their lawyers withdrew from the case in protest and the presiding judge rejected the defendants’ request for another defense team, stating that only Aso Rock Abuja (the presidential administration) could accept it.

“As a result, he sentenced us to death by hanging without a fair hearing, based on the prosecution’s false accusations against us, which our defense team discredited,” Lekwot said. “A ridiculous example of justice in a country that is supposed to be the hope of the black race. When our lawyers finally reached the Supreme Court, the case was dismissed due to Aso Rock’s refusal to publish the minutes of the decision. The same thing happened at the Oputa Panel hearings, when requests for the minutes of the decision were unsuccessful.”

Lekwot said the sentences were commuted to five years in prison following public outcry against the gross injustice. Human rights group the Constitutional Rights Project said it filed a lawsuit against the African Human Rights Commission in Banjul, Gambia, leading to the annulment of the convictions and prison sentences.

“The case was invalidated in October 1994 for gross violation of African statutes and others,” Lekwot said. “Therefore, we are always grateful to them for their commendable empathy. In fact, there was no trial in the strict sense of the word. What the corrupt court did did nothing but tarnish the respectable reputation of our judiciary, which was openly judged throughout the trial, not ours. “What a strange thing to do, which openly casts Nigeria in a bad light without any remorse.”

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