Finally, court grants El-zakzaky leave for medical treatment abroad
Kaduna High Court on Monday has granted the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibraheem El-zakzaky leave to go to India for medical treatment.
Justice Dairus Khobo, the presiding judge, had ordered that the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) leader and his wife be allowed to seek treatment in a Delhi hospital, India, as they requested, but that the officials of the Kaduna State government and personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS) should accompany them.
According to the presiding judge, the duo must return immediately after their discharge from the hospital to face their charges.
While speaking with the
media shortly after the judgment, the lead counsel to Kaduna State government, Bayero said: “This is not a bail, but a leave to travel. So, as soon as his discharged from the hospital and he returns to the country, and then his trial will resume.”
Bayero said the team of lawyers would study the ruling and explore whether there was need for appeal, saying, “We have a month to go through that.”
On his part, Marshal Abubakar, counsel to ElZakzaky, said, “It is not a bail application as is being wrongly reported by some media, it was an application to save the life of the applicants, ElZakzaky and his wife.”
According to Abubakar, “The ruling came up today and the court graciously agreed with Mr Femi Falana, SAN, and the various medical reports that were attached to the applications.
“There were eight medical reports that clearly shows the applicants are in dire need of medical treatment abroad. “The court agreed that they should be allowed to seek for treatment that they sort for and with supervision.”
In a swift reaction, chairman of the Free Zakzaky Campaign Committee, Sheikh Abdulrahman Abubakar Yola, issued a statement saying that the favourable ruling was a vindication that leaving all doors open to obtain favourable outcomes works. He therefore thanked all people of conscience, particularly some very senior citizens, diplomats, human rights activists and organisations, journalists and the general public who doggedly stood by us in the campaign for justice.
“We are all aware of the blurred human rights records of the Nigerian government which hardly respects court orders in contravention of the constitutional provisions.
“Previously, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife were still kept in detention incommunicado in spite of previous court judgment ordering their immediate release, thereby further flaunting their fundamental rights and jeopardising their deteriorating health.
“With this recent ruling by the court today, we will finalise urgent plans to transfer them to a more appropriate foreign health facility for further expert management as we await the response of the Nigerian government. We expect them to act urgently to respect the Nigerian constitution and the ruling of this honourable court to grant the duo instant permit to travel for their treatment,” he added.