El-Zakzaky’s Fate in Court’s Hand, Says Kaduna AG

The Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Aisha Dikko, yesterday said the fate of the leader of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El Zakzaky, is in the hands of the court.

The attorney general also said there was no pending court order on the case against the IMN leader instituted by the Kaduna State Government.

Dikko in a statement issued in Kaduna 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 added that the government would leave it to the court to decide the case.

The attorney general said 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.

“At its last sitting on December 5, 2019, the court adjourned hearing in the matter to February 6, 2020, and ordered the transfer of the couple from DSS facilities to the Kaduna Correctional Centre for the duration of trial,’’ she added.

“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,’’ she added.

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.