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| Leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise known as Shi”te, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky |
A Kaduna State High Court has fixed October 4 to rule on the bail application filed by leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat.
The presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada, adjourned the matter after counsel to the defendants, Mr. Maxwell Kyon, moved the application for the bail.
According to Kyon, the team of lawyers to El-Zakzaky came prepared with their brief, while the government lawyers also came with theirs and subsequently, the matter was adjourned to October 4.
He said that they were optimistic that El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat would be granted freedom.
Meanwhile, the state’s Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Chris Umar, said they had been able to serve the fourth and third accused persons through publications on newspapers.
“Afterwards, if they fail to appear, we have sought the court to issue a bench warrant,” he said.
However, there was tension in Kaduna metropolis yesterday as many people stayed indoors following the arraignment of the Shiites’ leader and wife.
Several roads were deserted from 9:00 a.m. with heavy presence of joint security operatives.
However, members of the IMN stormed the Ministry of Justice in Abuja demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The protesters, who marched in thousands immediately after the court adjourned the bail application, accused the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, of complicity in the discharge of his duties.
Abdullahi Muhammed, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the minister should explain why the Federal Government transferred the case to Kaduna.
He said: “We taught the minister of justice is not aware that the Federal High Court has ordered the Federal Government to free our leader within 45 days unconditionally and that his detention is unconstitutional and illegal.
“That is why we came here on several occasions to submit a lot of documents to him. We taught he is a kind of person that will respect the law of the land, but unfortunately, he and the Presidency are violating the law.
“He is our leader and we are ready to die here. We are ready to be buried alive for the sake of our leader.
We will stay here till the minister comes out to tell us why our leader is being detained without proper medical care.”
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The presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada, adjourned the matter after counsel to the defendants, Mr. Maxwell Kyon, moved the application for the bail.
According to Kyon, the team of lawyers to El-Zakzaky came prepared with their brief, while the government lawyers also came with theirs and subsequently, the matter was adjourned to October 4.
He said that they were optimistic that El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat would be granted freedom.
Meanwhile, the state’s Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Chris Umar, said they had been able to serve the fourth and third accused persons through publications on newspapers.
“Afterwards, if they fail to appear, we have sought the court to issue a bench warrant,” he said.
However, there was tension in Kaduna metropolis yesterday as many people stayed indoors following the arraignment of the Shiites’ leader and wife.
Several roads were deserted from 9:00 a.m. with heavy presence of joint security operatives.
However, members of the IMN stormed the Ministry of Justice in Abuja demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The protesters, who marched in thousands immediately after the court adjourned the bail application, accused the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, of complicity in the discharge of his duties.
Abdullahi Muhammed, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the minister should explain why the Federal Government transferred the case to Kaduna.
He said: “We taught the minister of justice is not aware that the Federal High Court has ordered the Federal Government to free our leader within 45 days unconditionally and that his detention is unconstitutional and illegal.
“That is why we came here on several occasions to submit a lot of documents to him. We taught he is a kind of person that will respect the law of the land, but unfortunately, he and the Presidency are violating the law.
“He is our leader and we are ready to die here. We are ready to be buried alive for the sake of our leader.
We will stay here till the minister comes out to tell us why our leader is being detained without proper medical care.”
In this article: