El-Zakzaky Arraigned Before Kaduna Court Amidst Tight Security

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Kaduna High Court 4 amidst tight security.

Sheikh Zakzaky, who arrived the court as early as 8:30 am in company of his wife, was reportedly brought into Kaduna the previous night from where he has been detained in the last one year.

Addressing journalists on the arraignment, Counsel to Zakzaky, Barrister Maxwell Kyom, said the cleric is being charged for unlawful gathering, criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable by death.

Kyom however stated that the case could not continue because two of the defendants were not present in court.

He said an oral application was moved for the bail of the Cleric and his wife, but the presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada, requested that the bail application should be put in writing.

Journalists and supporters of the Shiite’s leader trooped to the Court premises but were barred from entering as the major roads leading to the court were effectively condoned off by security agencies.

From Yakubu Gowon Way by Bida road, two Hilux of Kaduna state security outfit, ‘Operation Yaki’, were used to block the road with pedestrians who are not staff of the High Court promptly turned away.

A leader of the Shiites sect in Kaduna, Mallam Abdulhameed Bello, disclosed that Sheikh Zakzaky was forcefully brought to Kaduna a night before the sitting.

According to him, members of the Movement were disappointed for his re-arraignment because in a substantive suit before an Abuja High Court, the court ruled that he should be released unconditionally.

Mallam Bello disclosed that Sheikh Zakzaky is almost losing his two eyes and suffering from diabetes and mild stroke.

“We called on the Federal and Kaduna State governments to, as a matter of urgency, obey the judgment of the Abuja court and release the Sheikh for peace to reign.

“We as a Movement will continue to use all peaceful means to put pressure on the government to see reason and allow Sheikh Zakzaky to go home and attend to his deteriorating health,” he said.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to June 21, 2018 by the presiding judge, Justice Gorada, based on an application by the prosecuting team in order to properly file statement of claim.