The violent protests by Shiites on the platform of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) will continue as the Kaduna High Court adjourned the bail application of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zinat.
They have been on trial for culpable homicide and in detention since December 2015 after the sect members clashed with the military in Zaria, causing the death of more than 320 people.
The protests peaked on July 17, 2019 when the sect members killed a Deputy Commissioner of Police and caused the death of a journalist covering the protest for Channels Television in Abuja.
Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court, on July 29, 2019, adjourned to Aug. 5, the ruling in the application for permission to travel to India for medical attention filed by Ibrahim El-Zazaky and his wife, Zinat.
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) leader and his wife applied for medical bail citing poor health while in detention.
The Counsel to the respondents, who is also the Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Dari Bayero, briefed newsmen, shortly after the court hearing in Kaduna.
Bayero said the adjournment was sequel to the argument put forth by counsel to both parties on the application.
He said that his team had examined the eight medical reports by both Nigerian and foreign doctors that accompanied the IMN leader’s application.
According to him, they had argued that there are several medical facilities in the country that can handle the medical needs of the IMN leader and his wife.
Justice Khobo had granted the request of the Kaduna State Government to review and respond to Elzakzaki’s application.
Meanwhile, the counsel to the applicants, Femi Falana (SAN), told newsmen after Monday’s adjournment that his clients, El-Zakzaky and wife Zinat, were in dire need of medical attention.
Falana said that his clients had not been given adequate medical care since their detention on Dec. 14, 2015.
He expressed concern over the continued deteriorating condition of his client’s health, who he said, had already lost an eye and about to lose the second one if nothing is done.
According to him, pellets of bullets were still in his clients’ bodies since 2015 and needed to be removed.
Falana explained that the IMN leader was not in court because his health was “very bad”, noting that even during the last appearance, he could not climb the staircase to the courtroom.
“That is why we applied that he be excused from appearance in court and was granted.
“The pellets had resulted to lead poison and needed to be urgently removed by highly professional medical personnel,” Falana said.
He expressed the hope that the Court would grant Elzakzaki and his wife permission to travel for urgent medical care.
The IMN leader had sought to go to Medanta Hospital, New Delhi, India for medical attention following his failing health condition.
El-Zazaky in the application said he and his wife would return to Nigeria as soon as they were discharged.
IMN leader is standing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other charges in another court headed by Justice Gideon Kurada.
MM/GIK/APA