Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana has called for the immediate and unconditional release of leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Hajia Zeenat Ibraheem.
Falana addressed a letter dated April 5 to the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), stating that his clients were not at the scene of the alleged assassination attack on the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai on December 12.
The lawyer said the Army chief ordered thousands of armed soldiers to unleash violence on Shiite members in Kaduna State.
Falana said the Nigeria Police and the DSS have held the Sheikh and his wife for over three months, incommunicado and bereft of access to medical help.
“The troops set the building ablaze and killed three of our clients’ children in their presence and thereby subjected them to untold mental agony.”
“Thereafter, the armed soldiers shot our clients several times. As a result of the brutal attack Sheik Zakzaky lost his left eye while doctors are currently battling to save the right one.”
“While in custody, both of them have gone through many surgical operations to extract bullets from their bodies.
“Notwithstanding that such criminal charges are pending at the Kaduna High Court, the Kaduna State Government has set up a judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the same subject matter.”
“Even though our clients have not been told that they breached any law, they have been denied access to their lawyers, personal physicians and family members for over three months.”
“Our clients were only permitted to meet with us last Friday after several requests made by us had been turned without any legal basis. In the light of the foregoing, our clients and members of the IMN have resolved not to participate in the proceedings of the said Judicial Commission of Enquiry in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”
“Finally, we hereby demand for the immediate and unconditional release of our clients from illegal detention within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter.”
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