FG Accuses El-Zakzaky Of ‘Becoming Unruly Abroad’, Violating Bail Conditions

…says Indian govt plans returning him to Nigeria

The Federal Government has accused leader of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, of “becoming
uncontrollable” in India.

The Shi’ites leader is currently in India for medical treatment,
based on a court order.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture,
Grace Gekpe, alleged this in a statement made available to
journalists in Abuja.

Gekpe was reacting to an audio message in which El-Zakzaky
openly complained about the increased security presence around him
in the Indian hospital.

She described his claim as “a foul cry” that should be
disregarded.

She said the Islamic cleric started displaying “ulterior motives
against laid down procedures” when he and his wife had a stopover
in Dubai.

She said the situation continued in India where El-Zakzaky
initially insisted that he should be checked into a hotel instead
of a hospital and also asked for unfettered access to visitors.

According to Gekpe, the situation got to a stage that the Indian
authorities expressed their readiness to return him to Nigeria.

The statement read, “The Court on August 5, 2019, granted Sheikh
Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment.
Consequently, the government and its relevant agencies took steps
to comply with the order.

“In line with the court order, El-Zakzaky was approved to embark
on the trip with state officials and his choice to be accompanied
by his aides and personal doctors was not opposed by the
government.

“On August 12, 2019, he and other members of the entourage went
to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly
chose Medanta Hospital, India. However, on reaching Dubai,
El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down
procedures.

“He requested that his passport be handed over to him but the
state officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation
became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to
preliminary medical checks.

“In addition, he demanded free movement and access to visitors
of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a
five-star hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital.

“The request was refused on the ground that he came into the
country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his Visa
was issued on medical grounds and not for tourism). He also
demanded that police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian
authorities.”

Gekpe further alleged that, “against medical ethics and standard
practice, El-Zakzaky requested to nominate doctors of his choice to
join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical
treatment on him and his wife.”

This, she added, created a stalemate, and the hospital insisted
that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel
to carry out the required medical treatment.

She added, “Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities
have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate
effect.

“This is on the account that they will not allow him use their
country to internationalise his group’s activities.

“Against this background, the Nigerian government wishes to
commend the stand of the Indian Government as well as apologise to
her for the unruly behaviour of El-Zakzaky.

“Similarly, the attention of the public and, indeed, the
international community, is hereby drawn to these unfortunate
developments.

“The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm
its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through
due process if and when he is returned to the country.

“On this note, his foul cry that he is being held in
circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be
disregarded.”