BREAKING: Court orders FG to release Zakzaky

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered the release of the leader of the Shi’a Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, Premium Times reports.

El-Zakzaky had approached the court to demand his release, following his detention for months without being charged to Court.

He asked the court to declare that his arrest and continued detention violated his fundamental rights.

Zakzaky’s lawyer, Femi Falana, asked the court to declare the continued detention of his client without charging him unlawful.

While delivering his judgment, Justice Kolawole rejected the submission of the counsel to the Department of State Service (DSS), Tijjani Gazali, that El-Zakzaky was kept in protective custody of the SSS.

He said the decision to hold the Islamic cleric and his wife for their safety was not based on law.

“I have not been shown any incident report or any complaint lodged by residents around the neighbourhood that the applicant has become a nuisance to his neigbourhood,” said the judge.
Speaking further, the judge cited the case of Boko Haram leader, who was killed in custody.
Kolawole said, “If the applicant dies in custody which I do not pray for, it could result in many needless deaths”.
The judge said the government should within 45 days release the applicant and his family to the police, who shall within 24 hours take them, guarded by escort, to a safe place.
He also ordered the DSS to pay a fine of N25 million each to El-Zakzaky and his wife, making N50 million.

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