DSS is yet to release El-Zakzaky – Lawyer, Femi Falana

Femi Falana, lawyer to leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky said the man has not been released yet.  

Falana was reacting to reports that the religious leader, who has been held by the DSS since December 2015, has been allowed to go, based on the Kaduna court ruling, allowing him and his wife, Zeenat to embark on a medical trip to India.

“He has not been released yet”, Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said in a chat with Pmnews.

Chairman of Free Zakzaky Campaign Committee of IMN, Sheikh Abdulrahman Abubakar, also told Vanguard that the group is only aware that the DSS has been served certified true copies of the court ruling.

“The report we received a few minutes ago is that the DSS has acknowledged receipt of the Court ruling, and the security agency is currently in liaison with relevant authorities to find a way how to activate the judicial order fully. I can only tell you that we have not received Sheikh El-Zakzaky yet”.

Justice Darius Khobo, in a much awaited ruling, ordered on Monday, August 5th that the IMN leader be accompanied to India by officials of the Kaduna State government for medical treatment.  

He, however, did not give any time frame as to how long they will stay in India, but he said the IMN leader must return immediately after his discharge from the hospital to face his charges. The IMN leader and his wife had applied to the court seeking to travel, following poor health while in detention.  

The State Director of Public Prosecution, Dari Bayero,said the team would study the judgement to see if there were grounds for appeal. Bayero who is the respondent in El-Zazaky’s application, said the team had taken time and examined the eight medical reports by Nigerian and foreign doctors that accompanied the IMN leader’s application.

“The context of the court ruling is that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are granted leave to travel out for urgent medical attention. The court looked through the medical reports filed and believed Mallam is indeed in dire need of medical attention.  

“This is not a bail, but a leave to travel. So as soon as his discharge from the hospital and he returns to the country , his trial will resume,” he said.  Bayero said the team of lawyers would study the ruling and explore whether there is need for appeal. We have a month to go through that.”