El-Zakzaky’s Son Petitions NBA, Legal Practitioners’ Committee over Malami

Muhammad Zakzaky, the only surviving son of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiite, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has petitioned the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over what he described as the alleged “gross misconduct” by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami Abubakar (SAN).

According to him, Malami has failed in his duty to enforce the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court which ordered the release of his parents who have been in detention for over one year since their arrests following the clash between members of the IMN and the Nigerian Army in Zaria in December 2015.

Over 300 members of IMN were killed by soldiers during the incident.

Muhammad, in his petition, called on the legal bodies to apply appropriate sanctions and punitive measures against the AGF for disobeying an order of the court even as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

“I fervently call upon the Nigerian Bar Association/ Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee to enforce and uphold any punitive measures against the AGF, being the chief law officer of the federation and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, through withdrawals of privileges otherwise due to him for gross misconduct displayed by him, and to urgently act to secure the enforcement of the rights of El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat,” Muhammad said.

The petitions to the legal bodies dated February 28, 2017, said Nigeria is under international treaty obligations to ensure that fundamental rights of all citizens are guaranteed and protected, insisting that the government is a democracy that should be ruled by the constitution and the rule of law.

Muhammad stated further that his parents had approach the Federal High Court to seek the enforcement of their fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, dignity of the human person, right to private and family life and private property pursuant to sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41 and 46(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and articles 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ratification and enforcement) act law of the federation of Nigeria 2010 and order 11, order xi and xii of the fundamental rights (enforcement procedure) rules, 2009.

He said rather than comply with the ruling, the federal government has continued to illegally detain his parents.