The Sokoto Court of Appeal has ordered the police to pay N80 million to the Shi’ites, followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, for hurting them during a religious event on August 19, 2021.
The Court said the previous judgment by the trial court on May 17, 2022, was wrong. They agreed that the trial judge didn’t consider important facts from the Shi’ites’ evidence and unfairly judged against them.
On August 19, 2021, Shi’ites marched for Ashura, a religious event to remember Imam Hussaini bn Ali bn Abi Talib (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Police allegedly attacked them in Sokoto, killing four and injuring many.
The Shi’ites sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, but the Federal High Court in Sokoto ruled in favor of the police. The Shi’ites, unhappy with the decision, appealed.
In the March 18, 2024, judgment, the Appeal Court said the police’s attack was deliberate, cruel, and against Nigeria’s Constitution.
They ordered the police to pay N10 million for each person killed, N2 million for those injured, and N30 million to the Shi’a Muslim community for mistreating them during the procession.
