MAJ-GEN ZAMANI LEKWOT’S REMARKS DURING THE LAUNCHING OF THE BOOK “JUDICIAL TERRORISM IN THE 1992 ZANGON KATAF RIOT MOCK TRIALS” ON 5TH NOV., 2024 AT THE NIGERIAN ARMY RESOURCE CENTRE, ABUJA

1. BACKGROUND:

a.   One 6th February 1992, a riot broke out in Zangon Kataf market in the out skirts of the town causing six deaths and destruction of property. Consequently, the government set up a commission of Inquiry to investigate the cause and recommend a permanent solution to the problem.

b.  When the Commission concluded the work, we were all waiting for the report when on 9th May, 1992 an Islamic group in Zangon Kataf town petitioned his Highness the late Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Ibrahim Dansuki urging him to do something about the muslims who had died in the market riot of 6th February that year. Otherwise the Nigerian Jihad would start from Zangon Kataf since a muslim who kills or dies in the process goes to heaven. Copies were sent to the Governor of Kaduna State the late Alhaji Dabo Lere, HRH the Emir of Zaria, some other Emirs in the North and the security agencies.

c.  However, suddenly on Friday 15th May 1992 – I was told – the authors of the petition attacked Afabwang village, the closest atyap village to them and caused mayhem. The news spread like wild fire and the whole community became emotionally charged culminating in the clash which caused loss of lives and property on both sides.

d.  Instead of ordering a proper investigation to establish the facts, 61 of us including our chiefs, senior pastors and some other senior citizens were arrested and thrown into prison on the orders of Aso Rock Abuja, following Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s surprise visit to Zangon Kataf town on 26th May 1992 when he wept and declared those responsible for the destruction guilty. That was the narrative that culminated in the atyap’s persecution by Aso Rock. No Hausa/Fulani man, who started it all, was arrested.

2. THE TWO ATTEMPTED TRIALS:

a. The first trial consisted of four charges

i.   Unlawful Assembly

ii.  Rioting

iii. Rioting while being armed with weapons

iv. Disturbing the public peace 

b.  Consequently, the prosecution called 12 witnesses while the defence called 9. However, since the case was a charade without substance, the Attorney General of the Federation applied a Nolle Prosequi and we were discharged but not acquitted. Immediately thereafter, we were re-arrested and returned to the Kaduna prison on the orders of the Tribunal Chairman. 

 c.  In the second trial, 18 fresh charges were added to the original four without lifting the Nolle Prosequi which was very bizarre. As a result, our lawyers went to a Kaduna high court, seeking leave to enforce our fundamental rights. Shamelessly however, Aso Rock shocked everyone by confirming that the tribunal was on a mission to deliver us to the gallows come what may  when on 3rd December, 1992 Decree No.55 was promulgated and back dated sealing our fate by barring us from appeal. In protest, our lawyers withdrew from the case. Our request for a chance to hire another Defence Team was refused by the Tribunal Chairman because only Abuja could grant it, he said.

d. Consequently, he later condemned us to death by hanging without fair hearing based on the prosecution’s false charges against us which our Defence Team had discredited to his chagrin. What a travesty of justice in a country that is supposed to be the hope of the black race. When our lawyers finally got to the Supreme Court, the case was struck out because of Aso Rock’s refusal to release the judgment record. The same thing happened during the Oputa Panel sittings when the judgment record was demanded to no avail. 

e.  By and large, following serious public outcry against the gross injustice, the sentences were commuted to five years imprisonment. 

3.  THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS PROJECT’S TIMELY INTERVENTION 

Sequel to this gross injustice to the atyap people, the Constitutional Rights Project filed the case with the African Commission on Human Rights in Banjul the Gambia.  Consequently, the trial was nullified in October, 1994 due to the gross violation of the African charter et al. We therefore remain ever grateful to them for their commendable empathy.

4.  In essence, there was no trial in the real sense of the word. What the venal Tribunal did merely tarnished the fine reputation of our judiciary which was clearly the one on trial throughout the trial and not us. What a grotesque thing to do which clearly protrayed Nigeria in bad light without compunction. 

                Signed

Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot, rtd, mni