The Kaduna State High Court Monday granted leave to the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky, and his wife Zeenat to travel out of the country for medical treatment.
El-Zakzaky’s lawyer Femi Falana had filed a suit seeking his client’s release from detention since 2015 to treat his dimming sight and deteriorating health. Falana said eight medical reports attached to the bail suit showed that the Shiites leader needs urgent medical attention in Egypt.
“Doctors have confirmed that he has lost an eye and the second one may be lost on account of advanced glaucoma. Secondly, pellets in his body have not been removed,” said Falana. He said the pellets – shrapnel from the 2015 clash – was causing lead poisoning, having been in his body for four years.
In the last sitting on Friday, prosecution lawyer Dari Bayero argued that Nigeria’s medical facilities can treat all of El-Zakzaky’s ailments.
Ruling on Monday on the bail application by Zakzaky’s counsel, Mr, Femi Falana (SAN), the presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo , however ordered that El Zakzaky should be accompanied on the trip by officials of the Kaduna state government and personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS).
El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested after a 2015 clash in which the Nigerian troops killed an estimated 350 of his followers at his compound and a nearby mosque and burial ground in Kaduna State and has remained in detention despite a court order in Dec. 2016 to release him.
The Nigerian government on July 26, 2019, obtained a court order to label the group as a “terrorist” organization. Human rights activists kicked against the order but the Nigerian police last Wednesday announced that it will henceforth treat the IMN protests and all forms of procession as illegal.
