The Kaduna State Government, on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, said it had filed terms for strict supervision of the medical leave granted to the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat at a Kaduna High Court.
A competent court of law has ruled granting the Shi’ite cleric and his wife permission to travel abroad for treatment. These terms by the Kaduna State government is issued in direct contravention of the court order and an affront on the judiciary.
El Zakzaky and his wife who were shot by soldiers in December 2015 and have been in custody of the state since. A court ruled that they should be granted bail in 2016. The Buhari government continues to disobey that court order.
According to the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, he listed the conditions as follows:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall confirm the appointments of the defendants/applicants with the Medanta Hospital, India, and undertake all necessary diplomatic arrangements and protocols to ensure compliance with the conditions of the medical leave.”
“Each of the defendants/applicants shall undertake to return to Nigeria to continue their trial as soon as they are discharged from the hospital, and shall also be responsible for the cost of their travel, treatment and living expenses while on their medical leave.”
“Each of the defendants/applicants shall produce two prominent and reliable persons as sureties, one being a first-class chief/emir of national repute and the other a prominent person within Kaduna state who shall undertake to produce the defendants whenever they are needed. The sureties must also produce evidence of landed property within Kaduna state.”
“The Federal Government of Nigeria shall obtain from the Government of India an irrevocable guarantee that it will not entertain any application by the defendants/applicants or any third party seeking asylum under any guise or conferring the status of political prisoners or any other status aside from being medical patients on the defendants/applicants and shall also restrain the defendants/applicants from any act inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.”
“Each of the defendants/applicants shall undertake in writing, endorsed by their counsel, that while on medical treatment in India, they shall do nothing to jeopardise the ongoing trial, the peace and security of Nigeria and the laws of the Republic of India in whatever form.”
“Security agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria shall escort the defendants/applicants and remain with them throughout the duration of their treatment in India and thereafter shall return with them after their discharge from the hospital.”
“The Nigerian High Commission in India shall undertake prior vetting and grant consent before any visitor has access to the defendants/applicants while in the Republic of India.”
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