Kaduna state government said the
fate of the leader of proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Ibrahim
El-Zakzaky and his wife is in the hands of the court.
This is contrary to the position
of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who had earlier
said that the fate of El-Zakzaky can only be decided by the Governor Nasir
El-Rufai led Kaduna state government. A position held for the continued
detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife.
The Kaduna state attorney general
said there was no pending court order on the case against the IMN leader
instituted by the Kaduna state government.
In a statement issued in Kaduna,
the Attorney General stressed that the ongoing legal processes should not be
the subject of media campaign or pressure of any kind, affirming that the state
government has no intention of withdrawing the charges against El-Zakzaky.
She explained that the government
would leave it to the court to decide the case, saying that both El Zakzaky and
his wife Zeenat are facing an eight-count charge, including culpable homicide
punishable with death, before the High Court of Kaduna State.’
She recalled that the court had
earlier refused the accused persons’ application for bail following their
arraignment in August 2018.
She explained, “At its last
sitting on 5th December 2019, the Court adjourned hearing in the matter to 6th
February 2020, and ordered the transfer of the couple from DSS facilities to
the Kaduna Correctional Centre for the duration of trial.
“It is the High Court that will
decide the case, and the rule of law demands respect for the prerogatives of
the court and the ongoing legal process.”
Dikko expressed the hope that all
parties have learnt the necessary lessons from the debacle that the New Delhi
trip of the IMN leader, adding that due process of law should be allowed to
take its course.
The attorney general maintained
that there is no court order pending against the Kaduna State Government on the
matter.
She observed, “Rulings and orders
that were secured against the Federal Government do not have any bearing
against the Kaduna State Government which was not a party to those proceedings
and against whom no orders were made.
“Any issues regarding compliance
or non-compliance with a court order by the DSS or the Federal Government
cannot be used to vitiate the judicial proceedings the Kaduna State Government
has commenced against the El-Zakzakys.’”
The statement recalls that an
eight-count charge was filed against some accused persons on April 19, 2018,
including El Zakzaky and his wife, after months of painstaking investigation,
which covered a period of about three decades.
According to her, others charged
to court included Yakubu Yahaya Katsina and Sanusi Abdulkadir Koki for alleged
criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide punishable with death and unlawful
assembly.
She explained, “Other charges
included alleged wrongful restraint, disturbance of public peace and
voluntarily causing grievous hurt as well as inciting disturbance, and breach
of public peace.”
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