Thirty eight members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were arraigned on Thursday by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command before two magistrates courts following Tuesday’s protests by the group which turned violent.

Ten members of the sect were brought before a Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2 while 28 others were arraigned at a Magistrate Court 2 in Wuse Zone 6. 

At the Wuse Zone 2 Court, the defendants, with the help of an interpreter pleaded not guilty to the charges which include criminal conspiracy, assault, mischief, unlawful assembly, obstructing public officials, disturbing public peace, rioting armed with deadly weapons and causing grievous hurt. Those arraigned in Wuse Zone 6 also pleaded not guilty.

The Police alleged that the accused persons snatched a gun from one Inspector Ahmed Sani and caused grievous hurt on SP Umar Abdullahi, Inspector Ahmed Sani, Cpls. Mohammed Sarki and Joseph Abutu

Following the plea, counsel to the defendants who do not understand English, I.A Ishaq moved a motion praying that his clients be released on bail. He also drew the courts’ attention to the fact that nine of the defendants were minors.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Raphael Joshua ordered that the minors be remanded in a decent facility outside the police cell. The judge then adjourned the case to Thursday, July 18 to rule on the bail application.