Release el-Zakzaky or kill us all, IMN dares FG

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), yesterday, blocked major roads in the Kaduna metropolis, in protest against the continued incarceration of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky, just as it called on government to release him or kill the remaining members of the group.

The protesters, who blocked all the major highways in Kaduna metropolis, held a rally, chanting “free Zakzaky,” “we demand justice,” “we are Nigerians,” release El-Zakzaky or kill us all.”

Genesis of the sect/military face-off

The Shi’ites clashed with the military December 2015 in Zaria, during which over 300 members of the group were reportedly killed and given mass burial.

In the ensuing melee, properties, including houses and other valuables were destroyed, following which the group’s leader was arrested and consequently detained.

Worried by the development, el- Zakkyzaky  and his wife, Zeenat, also arrested alongside with him,  headed to court to enforce their fundamental rights and instituted a N3billion suit against the federal government .    

Court’s unconditional release

And in response to his claims, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in December last year, ordered the unconditional release of the detained IMN leader, and his wife within 45 days.

 Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who gave the order while delivering judgment on a fundamental right enforcement suit el-Zakzaky filed against the Federal Government,  held that the continued detention of the applicant without trial, amounted to a gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The court, therefore, awarded N50m damages against the Federal Government, even as it ordered the construction of a new accommodation for el-Zakzaky’s family in any part of Kaduna state or the Northern region.

The court dismissed the Federal Government’s position that the applicant and his wife were under “protective custody”, saying such protection was “unknown to any law in Nigeria.” Justice Kolawole also noted that FG failed to, by way of evidence; substantiate its claim that the defendant constituted a threat.

Justice Kolawole said: “I am unable to accept the view that the applicant was being detained with his consent”, adding that Federal Government’s claim that it expended over N5million to treat the applicant did not in any way justify his continued detention without trial.

 

Group protests detention

As a follow-up to the previous protests seeking his release, the sect members regrouped yesterday to openly demonstrate against their leader’s detention.  

Spokesman of the aggrieved protesters, Malam Nuhu Mafara, told journalists that they were out in large numbers to agitate for the unconditional release of their leader who has been in detention for 612 days.

“The protest was a joint action against the illegal detention of our leader, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky,  and all members from Kano Jigawa, Niger, Bauchi, Zamfara and other northern states, are here today to demand the unconditional release of our leader.

“Today also marks over 250 days since court of the land set him (el-Zakzaky) free, but the cabals holding Nigerians to ransom have stubbornly refused to obey court orders.”

Also in a statement by one of the group’s leaders, Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, the members said, “while there are known figures in Nigeria today agitating for the breakup of the country into pieces, with some even issuing ultimatum to the government, but here is Sheikh Zakzaky, who has never committed any treasonable offence languishing in jail.

“We will not rest on our oars until justice is served to the most oppressed Sheikh of our time, Sheikh el-Zakzaky.”

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