El-Zakzaky gets April 23 for
trial
The Kaduna State
High Court Monday fixed April 23 and 24 for trial of the leader of Islamic
Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also called the Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky
and his wife, Zeenat.
High Court Monday fixed April 23 and 24 for trial of the leader of Islamic
Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also called the Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky
and his wife, Zeenat.
The court,
presided over by Justice Gideon Kurada, was earlier informed by one of the
defendants’ lawyers, Marshal Abubakar, that the couple were allegedly not given
medical attention in prison custody.
presided over by Justice Gideon Kurada, was earlier informed by one of the
defendants’ lawyers, Marshal Abubakar, that the couple were allegedly not given
medical attention in prison custody.
Members
of Islamic Movement in Nigeria had severally demonstrated
against the detention of their leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in Abuja, prompting
the trial judge to summon the Controller of the Kaduna Correctional Centre to
appear before him.
of Islamic Movement in Nigeria had severally demonstrated
against the detention of their leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky in Abuja, prompting
the trial judge to summon the Controller of the Kaduna Correctional Centre to
appear before him.
He stood down the
court’s proceedings for more than two hours.
court’s proceedings for more than two hours.
Abubakar told
reporters after court proceedings that the trial of his clients was again being
frustrated by the state.
reporters after court proceedings that the trial of his clients was again being
frustrated by the state.
The lawyer alleged
that the state did not allow the defendants to have access to their doctors, as
ordered by the court.
that the state did not allow the defendants to have access to their doctors, as
ordered by the court.
“The matter was
billed for today (Monday) for trial. Sheikh El-Zakzaky and Mallama Zeenat were
supposed to take their pleas today and the charges filed
billed for today (Monday) for trial. Sheikh El-Zakzaky and Mallama Zeenat were
supposed to take their pleas today and the charges filed
“As at the last
date, the state authorities had informed the court that they intended to call
their witnesses today. Unfortunately, the trial was stalled by the state once
again.
date, the state authorities had informed the court that they intended to call
their witnesses today. Unfortunately, the trial was stalled by the state once
again.
“On the last
adjoined date, being February 6, 2020, the court ordered that the defendants
should be allowed access to medical care to be provided by their (defendants’)
medical practitioners in conjunction with the medical doctors nominated by the
state Ministry of Justice and the prisons authorities.
adjoined date, being February 6, 2020, the court ordered that the defendants
should be allowed access to medical care to be provided by their (defendants’)
medical practitioners in conjunction with the medical doctors nominated by the
state Ministry of Justice and the prisons authorities.
“Unfortunately, it
was brought to the court’s attention that the order was frustrated by the state
– the Kaduna State government – and the prisons authorities, who had refused to
allow doctors of El-Zakzaky and his wife to have access to them for medical
examination,” he said.
was brought to the court’s attention that the order was frustrated by the state
– the Kaduna State government – and the prisons authorities, who had refused to
allow doctors of El-Zakzaky and his wife to have access to them for medical
examination,” he said.
But counsel to the
state and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dari Bayero, told reporters
that all “grey areas” had been resolved as the court had ordered that the
couple be allowed access to their doctors.
state and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dari Bayero, told reporters
that all “grey areas” had been resolved as the court had ordered that the
couple be allowed access to their doctors.
He said: “There
were some issues that arose in court. But all grey areas have been sorted out
and the judge had given order that the personal physicians to the defendants be
allowed access to them.
were some issues that arose in court. But all grey areas have been sorted out
and the judge had given order that the personal physicians to the defendants be
allowed access to them.
“Even if they want
to go for scanning in any hospital, the Correctional Centre should provide
security for them to be taken anywhere.
to go for scanning in any hospital, the Correctional Centre should provide
security for them to be taken anywhere.
“The court had
adjourned the matter till April 23 and 24, 2020, so that all the issues raised
would have been done for the trial to commence.”
adjourned the matter till April 23 and 24, 2020, so that all the issues raised
would have been done for the trial to commence.”
When asked why a
plea had not been taken, Bayero said: “The court said it can only try sane and
healthy defendants.
plea had not been taken, Bayero said: “The court said it can only try sane and
healthy defendants.
“Since there are
issues raised about their health, the court had adjourned so that they can go
and get better to access their personal physician, access the medical doctors
they want…”
issues raised about their health, the court had adjourned so that they can go
and get better to access their personal physician, access the medical doctors
they want…”