Kaduna state government said the fate of the leader of proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife is in the hands of the court.
This is contrary to the position of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who had earlier said that the fate of El-Zakzaky can only be decided by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai led Kaduna state government. A position held for the continued detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife.
The Kaduna state attorney general said there was no pending court order on the case against the IMN leader instituted by the Kaduna state government.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, the Attorney General 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 explained that the government would leave it to the court to decide the case, saying that 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.
She explained, “At its last sitting on 5th December 2019, the Court adjourned hearing in the matter to 6th February 2020, and ordered the transfer of the couple from DSS facilities to the Kaduna Correctional Centre for the duration of trial.
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.
The attorney general maintained that there is no court order pending against the Kaduna State Government on the matter.
She observed, “Rulings and orders that were secured against the Federal Government do not have any bearing against the Kaduna State Government which was not a party to those proceedings and against whom no orders were made.
The statement recalls that an eight-count charge was filed against some accused persons on April 19, 2018, including El Zakzaky and his wife, after months of painstaking investigation, which covered a period of about three decades.
According to her, others charged to court included Yakubu Yahaya Katsina and Sanusi Abdulkadir Koki for alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide punishable with death and unlawful assembly.
She explained, “Other charges included alleged wrongful restraint, disturbance of public peace and voluntarily causing grievous hurt as well as inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace.”