Africa-Press-Nigeria
A Nigerian court on Wednesday acquitted Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a banned Shi’ite group, of all eight criminal charges against him, defence and prosecution lawyers said.
Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, had been in detention since 2015 when he was arrested after a clash in which the army killed an estimated 350 people at an IMN compound and a nearby mosque and burial ground in northern Kaduna state.
The couple had been facing a range of charges filed by the state government in 2018, including aiding and abetting homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace.
One Kaduna State High Court don free di banned Islamic Movement in Nigeria leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and im wife.
Di presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada for im ruling uphold di no-case submission wey Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and im wife bin sign.
Di judge for im ruling say di prosecution fail to establish prima facie case against di defendants.
El-Zakzaky and im wife Zeenat Ibrahim don dey on trial for four years for eight-count charge of alleged culpable homicide, disruption of public peace and unlawful Assembly among oda allegations wey di Kaduna state goment nack dem.
Counsel to di defendants, Marshal Abubakar wey represent di lead counsel for di suit, Femi Falana, SAN, tell reporters shortly after di trial end for Kaduna say:”Di trial of Sheik El-Zakzaky and im wife Zeenat don come to an end as di court find dem not guilty of di alleged crime, wey di Kaduna State goment file against dem.
“Di court find say dem file di charges for 2018 in pursuant to di Penal law di State goment enact in 2017 over an alleged offence wey dem say happun in 2015.”Di court wey Justice Gideon Kurada preside over, rule say di charge no suppose dey filed in di first place, as di goment no fit arraign someone for crime wey no be offence at di time.Oda time court give order to free El-Zakzaky
Dis no be di first time court don rule say make dem free Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and im wife.
Di Nigerian Army arrest leader of di proscribed Islamic movement for December 12, 2015 and hand am over to di Nigeria secret police DSS sake of one kwanta between im followers and sojas wey dey di entourage of di former Chief of Army Staff Lt-General Tukur Buratai.
December 2, 2016 – One Federal High Court wey siddon for Abuja bin order di unconditional release of detained leader of di sect and im wife, Malami Zeenat, within 45 days.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole bin give di order while e dey deliver judgment on a fundamental right enforcement suit El-Zakzaky filed against FG.
E say make dem pay El Zakzaky and im wife di sum of 50 million Naira ($164,052) in compensation. Di judge announce say di justification of “holding im for im own protection” no dey sufficient.
For August 2019, one court for Kaduna state grant im and im wife bail to seek treatment abroad but dem return from India afta 3 days because of unfair treatment and tough restrictions by security operatives wey goment send to di medical facilities.
Who be Ibrahim El-Zakzaky?
Dem born Ibraheem Yaqoub El-Zakzaky for 5 May 1953. E be outspoken and prominent Shi’a Muslim leader for Nigeria. E be di head of Nigeria Islamic Movement, wey e establish for late 1970s.
E marry Zeenah Ibraheem and dem get nine children. Currently, only three of im children (one son and two daughters) dey alive. Three of im sons die during di Zaria Quds Day massacres for 2014.
