President Muhammad Buhari
FG
President Muhammad Buhari
FG Explains Purported Repatriation of Zakzaky from
India
The Federal Government wishes to inform the public about the
latest developments in the Ibraheem Elzakzaky medical trip
controversies to India.
The Government notes with dismay the acts of misconduct
exhibited by Elzakzaky that necessitated his repatriation to
Nigeria.
The earlier statement of 14th August 2019 by the Government
addressed the issues that would have raised some questions with the
latest occurrences and particularly the uncelebrated return of
Elzakzaky from India. The public may note that El-Zakzaky’s actions
in India demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of
embarrassing the Governments of Nigeria and India.
With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for
international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with
a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in
that country. He also contacted some Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs), such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and
other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually
relocate to another country.
It is important to note that if an Indian Court had granted
El-Zakaky asylum or leave to travel to another country, it would
have violated the Nigerian court order that granted him permission
to travel for medical treatment. However, he used the opportunity
of being in India to attempt to internationalise his cause by
mobilising the Rights groups. Even most unfortunate and rather
embarrassing as earlier stated was his quest to be relocated to a
5-star hotel to receive visitors instead of being admitted in the
hospital as a sick person he claimed to be.
In spite of his misconduct, Elzakzaky’s spouse went further to
antagonise Indian and Nigerian security agents and accused the
latter of killing her children. These acts were aimed at winning
international sympathy as well as disparaging the Nigerian
Government. Having subordinated the quest for medical treatment to
other ulterior motives, it became obvious that El-Zakaky was
focused on realising some sinister motives thus the decision to
return him to Nigeria.
Grace Isu Gekpe
Permanent Secretary
Federal Ministry of Information and Culture
Abuja