A Kaduna high court has fixed August 5 to rule on the bail
application filed by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria (IMN), and his wife, Zeenat.
El-Zakzaky and his wife who have been in detention since their
arrest in 2015, are seeking permission to travel abroad for medical
treatment.
The application was filed by Femi Falana, their counsel, on July
18.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Falana explained that the
absence of his clients at the court was due to their health
condition.
He told the court that their health condition was deteriorating
daily and added that a foreign medical treatment was required to
“stabilise them to enable them to face the main trial”.
Debris Bayero, the prosecuting counsel, opposed the bail
application.
He argued that the medical condition can be treated locally,
saying there was no need for the court to release them on bail to
travel abroad.
Thereafter, Darius Khobo, the presiding judge, adjourned the
ruling on the application to August 5.
El-Zakzaky and his wife are facing an eight-count of culpable
homicide, unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
A federal high court in Abuja had declared the group a terrorist
organisation, following an ex-parte application filed by the
federal government.
Recent protests by the group to demand the release of the
Shi’ites leader and his wife turned violent as they clashed with
security agencies.
Usman Umar, a senior police officer, and Precious Owolabi, a
Channels Television reporter, lost their lives on August 22 when a
Shi’ites protest in Abuja turned violent.
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