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Tag: el-zakzaky

  • 2023: Shi’ite leader, El-Zakzaky speaks on endorsing Peter Obi

    2023: Shi’ite leader, El-Zakzaky speaks on endorsing Peter Obi

    Islamic Movement of  Nigeria Leader, (IMN) Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has cleared the air over his endorsement of the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

    El-Zakzaky described the viral reports of him endorsing Obi as a falsehood that should be ignored.

    Reports claimed that the Shi’ite leader urged members of his movement to get their Personal Voter Cards, PVCs, and vote for Obi next month.

    However, his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar of the Falana & Falana Chambers, has urged the general public to disregard such statement dismissing it as untrue.

    He also disclosed that “some presidential candidates” approached him for an endorsement but he refused.

    “That is fake news. I can confirm to you that there is nothing of such, though some presidential candidates have reached out to him, he has refrained from endorsing any of them because he believes the 2023 presidential contest is bereft of ideological leaning,” Marshal told newsmen.

    Recently, former president of the country, the Egba High Chief has Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo endorsed Peter Obi for 2023 presidential elections in the country.

  • Passport seizure: El-Zakzaky, wife drag FG to court, demand N4bn damages

    Passport seizure: El-Zakzaky, wife drag FG to court, demand N4bn damages

    Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, have filed a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja, challenging the seizure of their international passports by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

    In their separate suits filed by the Femi Falana Chambers on October 14, they told the court that their passports were last seen in the possession of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which has officially denied that it was in their possession.

    On attempting to renew their passports through the Immigration Service, it was revealed that the passports have been flagged by the DSS. They add that all requests to remove the restriction have been ignored by the secret agency.

    The duo asked the court to compel the DSS and the AGF to release their passports and lift the red flag restrictions.

    They are also asking the court to declare that the seizure of their passports since May 2019, as illegal and unconstitutional because it violates their fundamental rights to freedom of movement.

    They asked the court to mandate the defendants to pay the sum of N2 billion each, as general and exemplary damages, for the violation of their rights to freedom of movement.

    The reliefs sought include by the plaintiffs include:

    “A declaration that the seizure of the Applicants Passport No A50578740 since May 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    “A declaration that the Red Flag Travelling Restrictions placed on the Applicants Passport and land borders by the Respondents without a court order is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    “A declaration that the refusal of the Respondents to allow the Applicant to travel abroad for medical treatment constitutes a threat to his life guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    “An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to release the Applicant’s international passport number A50578740 to him in order to enable him to access prompt and adequate medical attention as recommended by his physicians.

    “An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to lift the Red Flag Restrictions (and all or every form of restriction howsoever) placed on the International Passport number A50578740 of the Applicant by agents of the Respondents forthwith.

    “An order of this Honourable Court mandating the Respondents to pay over to the applicant the sum of Two Billion Naira (N2,000,000,000.00) as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the Applicant’s rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents from further violating the Applicants fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.”

    El-Zakzaky and his wife added that the seizure of their passports, and an absence of a court order, amounts to a threat to their lives since they have been denied the opportunity to seek urgent medical attention outside the country as recommended by their doctors.

  • BREAKING: Two shot, others injured as El-Zakzaky protesters clash with security operatives in Abuja [+Video]

    BREAKING: Two shot, others injured as El-Zakzaky protesters clash with security operatives in Abuja [+Video]

    Nigerian soldiers and policemen have clashed with members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites, during a procession by the group on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to fresh reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG), two Shiite members were shot by security operatives around Guaranty Trust Bank, along 3rd Avenue in Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.

    The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as ‘Shiites’ on Monday in Abuja embarked on its annual Arbaeen Symbolic Trek causing tension and traffic gridlock on the Kubwa-Kaduna express on Tuesday.

    The exercise TNG gathered led to a clash between the security operatives who were trying to disperse the El-Zakzaky followers in order to ease traffic tension.

    So many passengers were stranded between Gwarimpa and Kubwa as both the service Lane and expressway remained blocked.

    Members of the sect were seen with placards including portraits of the sons of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who were killed during the ‘Zaria Massacre.’

    According to a leader of the Movement, Sheikh Sidi Sokoto, who addressed journalists, said the purpose of the trek was to experience the trial and tribulation faced by the household of the Holy Prophet who was chained and dragged in the scorching desert, barefoot from Karbala in Iraq to Damascus in Syria after the killing of Imam Husain 61 years after Hijra.

    “The fortieth day (Arbaeen) commemoration after the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) is commemorated annually by the Islamic movement, following a symbolic trek by millions of people from across the country.

    “Though we started with few people and confined ourselves to a particular place and recited some supplication, we thank Allah now; we trek in millions, an indication that people are gradually beginning to realise the lofty position of Imam Husain (AS) in Islam.

    “Today, the general public have witnessed how the Arbaeen trek like those before ended without any attempt to curb the right of safe passage to other road users. No panic was created by our Arbaeen trek. Love for Imam Husain (AS) is not the exclusive right of Muslims only. But because of the gruesome attack on the Imam at Karbala, the fortieth day after is commemorated by and for all those who love justice and fight against oppression in all ages, including ourselves.

    “That is why we always welcome our brothers and sisters whom of their own free will trekked with us today. This is not the first time they have identified themselves with Imam Husain; they have done it before and we thankfully welcome them. This is the handwork of Allah, and not the trick or influence of anybody as no one forced us to trek, it is out of free will and love for the family of the Prophet(s),” he added.

  • Government denies El-Zakzaky, wife access to documents to travel abroad for medicare

    Emman Ovuakporie

    One month after the Kaduna State High Court acquitted and discharged the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El- Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat Ibrahim, have been denied their international passports to seek medical care abroad.

    This was made known in a statement issued on Friday by Ibrahim Musa, the President Media Forum of the group.

    Musa stated that the medical records of the couple show that they both suffer from deteriorating health conditions and ought to have sought medical assistance outside the country.

    He noted that they are seemingly being held back by some powerful persons in government who are holding on to the international passports of the couple.

    The statement reads partly, “Four weeks after being discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State High Court, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenah Ibrahim, are yet to travel abroad for medical treatment as their international passports are still being held by security agencies and a new one has not been issued to them.

    Both the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Security (DSS) have denied being in possession of the international passports of the couple.

    “It is a known fact, however, that during the botched medical trip to India as granted by the Kaduna High Court, their international travel documents were promptly seized on arrival by these security agencies. Thus, who did they hand over to? That wasn’t too long ago not to remember or know.

    “Were these international passports handed over to certain powerful persons in government, as is being speculated, who are using their powers and influence to further detain the Sheikh and his wife thereby denying them the freedom granted by the Nation’s courts? We hope this is not another evil machination of those in the corridors of power in Nigeria to deny the couple access to medical treatment.

    “We wish to remind the general public that for the past almost six years, medical reports have indicated that their health condition has deteriorated and as such needed to travel overseas for treatment. That was the basis for the Kaduna state high court granting them medical leave which was later scuttled by the government in 2018.

    “Muslim brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement and other lovers of justice across the world are getting agitated once again because of these obnoxious developments including what appears to be placing the duo under house arrest by Buhari regime.

  • Falana tackles Kaduna Government over fresh charges against El-Zakzaky, wife

    Falana tackles Kaduna Government over fresh charges against El-Zakzaky, wife

    Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has accused the Kaduna State Government of filing fresh terrorism charges against the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat to frustrate their release.

    El-Zakzaky and his wife were freed of all charges levelled against them by the Kaduna State Government on July 28, five years after being detained by the Department of Security Service (DSS).

    In a ruling that lasted over eight hours, the presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada upheld the no-case submission filed by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife in an alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace levelled against them by the Kaduna state government.

    However, the Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration filed fresh seven charges against the IMN leader at the Federal High Court 24 hours later.

    But Falana, who is the lead counsel to El-Zakzaky, described the development as a “desperate bid by the Kaduna State Government to frustrate the release of the defendants from further incarceration.”

    “The new charge was maliciously filed when the Kaduna State Government anticipated that the ruling fixed for July 28 in respect our no case submission would succeed,” Falana said via a statement issued on Sunday.

    The senior lawyer also praised the trial judge for displaying exceptional courage and judicial independence amid what he described as intimidation by the forces of oppression.

    See full statement issued by Falana below:

    NEW TERRORISM CHARGE WAS HURRIEDLY FILED BY KADUNA STATE GOVERNMENT TO FRUSTRATE THE RELEASE OF MALLAM IBRAHIM ELZAKZAKY AND MALLAMA ZEENAT ELZAKZAKY FROM PRISON CUSTODY

    It has been reported in the media that the Kaduna State Government filed a new charge of terrorism and treasonable felony against Mallam Ibrahim Elzakzaky and his wife, Mallama Zeenat Elzakzaky after the dismissal of the 8-count charge of conspiracy and abetment of culpable homicide by the Kaduna State High Court. But contrary to such reports the new charge was hurriedly filed in the Federal High Court holden at Kaduna on Tuesday, 26th July in a desperate bid by the Kaduna State Government to frustrate the release of the defendants from further incarceration. In other words, the new charge was maliciously filed when the Kaduna State Government anticipated that the ruling fixed for July 28 in respect our no case submission would succeed.

    As soon as the new charge was filed the Bailiff of the Federal High Court twas commanded to rush to the Kaduna Correctional Centre to serve same on the defendants. But the defendants refused to accept service of the charge and directed the Bailiff to serve it on them through their Counsel.

    But for reasons best known to the Kaduna State Government the charge was not served on the defence counsel. However, on July 28 the trial judge, the Honourable Justice Gideon Kurada refused to be intimidated by the forces of oppression as he displayed exceptional courage and judicial independence. His Lordship dismissed the 8-count charge on the ground that it was filed under a law enacted in 2017 by the Kaduna State Government for offences that were alleged to have been committed in 2015. Alternatively, the learned trial examined the oral testimony of the 15 witnesses called by the Prosecution, upheld the no case submission of the defence and discharged the defendants.

    In apparent disregard of the epochal judgment of the Honourable Justice Gideon Kurada the Kaduna State Government seeks to subject the defendants to trial under the Terrorism Prevention Act enacted in 2011 for offences that were committed as far back as 2008. But since the Kaduna State Government is not sure that the defendants would be convicted for terrorism the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Bayero has announced that an appeal would be filed at the Court of Appeal against the Ruling of the Honourable Justice Gideon Kadura. No doubt, the new charge constitutes the worst abuse of the process of the Federal High Court. Once the case charge is served on the defence we shall not hesitate to file the necessary application for the immediate termination of the prosecutorial charade.

    In view of the foregoing, we wish to state, without any fear of contradiction, that the filing of the new charge of terrorism and treasonable felony by the Kaduna State Government has no effect whatsoever on the valid and subsisting order of the Honourable Justice Gideon Kudura for the unconditional release of the defendants from prison custody. In the same vein, the filing of the proposed notice of appeal by the Kaduna State Government will not constitute a stay of action with respect to the order for the release of the defendants. Therefore, as law abiding citizens the defendants are free to continue to breathe the air of freedom. However, since the new charge has failed to achieve its oppressive objective of frustrating the release of the couple from further incarceration we call on the Kaduna State Government to discontinue it without any delay.

    Femi Falana SAN

    Leader of the Defence Team

  • BREAKING: Kaduna Govt files fresh charges against El-Zakzaky hours after court discharged him

    BREAKING: Kaduna Govt files fresh charges against El-Zakzaky hours after court discharged him

    The Kaduna State government has filed fresh charges against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that this comes less than 48 hours after the embattled IMN leader was discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State high court.

    Justice Gideon Kurada had on Wednesday discharged and acquitted Elzakzaky and his wife Zeenat, from the eight charges pressed against them by the state government for lack of merit.

    However, not satisfied with the ruling, the state government on Thursday filed a fresh seven charges against the IMN leader at the Federal High Court.

    The state Director of Public Prosecution, Daris Bayero, told Channels Television that the charges bother on terrorism and treasonable felony against the state and federal government.

    He further explained that some of the actions of the IMN leader upon which he is being charged with fresh allegations, dated back before 2015.

    Bayero added that with the fresh charges, the court will consequently issue an order for the arrest of Elzakzaky for him to answer the charges.

  • Homicide: El-Zakzaky, wife to know fate today

    Homicide: El-Zakzaky, wife to know fate today

    Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who has been in detention since December 2015 will know his fate today.

    Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Gideon Kurada would give judgment in his case, along with his wife Zeenah.

    The couple have been standing trial in the court for the past four years.

    President Media Forum of the Islamic Movement, Ibraheem Musa, disclosed the judgment day in a press statement he issued to newsmen on Tuesday.

    Musa said the court is expected to pass judgement on the No-Case-Submission prayer presented by the lead Counsel to Sheikh Zakzaky, Mr Femi Falana SAN.

    Falana had argued that even though the prosecution called 15 witnesses, none of them was able to establish any connection between the alleged crimes and Sheikh El- Zakzaky.

    In the last sitting of the court held on 1 July, , the lead Counsel prayed the court to rule in favour of his clients.

    If that happens, then the Sheikh and his wife will be set free since their arrest and detention in December, 2015.

    Two other courts had earlier upheld the no case submission in respect of almost 200 members of the Islamic Movement who were slammed with the same charge as Sheikh Zakzaky.

    The members were discharged and acquitted.

    Also in 2016 a federal high court in Abuja restored the fundamental human rights of the embattled Sheikh and his wife and set him free.

    However the Buhari government refused to obey the court order.

  • Police lied, we’re not responsible for ASP Adama’s death – IMN

    Police lied, we’re not responsible for ASP Adama’s death – IMN

    The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has denied any involvement in the death of ASP Ezekiel Adama.

    The FCT Police Public Relation Officer, Mariam Yusuf had said that Adama was killed by a member of IMN during a protest on Friday.

    Yusuf said that members of the disbanded movement on Friday went on a rampage, destroying public property and attacking innocent citizens, including police officers, using dangerous weapons.

    She said that 49 members of the movement had been arrested and would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of an investigation.

    However, the IMN’s spokesman Ibrahim Musa denied the allegations by the police in a statement sent to PM News on Sunday evening.

    Please read the full statement from IMN below:

    Our attention was drawn to a mischievous statement released by The Police PPRO, in the FCT, Mariam Yusuf late last Friday, alleging that one ASP Ezekiel Adama of the same command was stabbed to death by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria who were observing the annual International Quds day in Abuja.

    That fake and mischievous statement didn’t come to us as a surprise because, as we had earlier stated before, the government had concluded diabolic plots to associate the Movement with terrorism through series of false flag operations. This undoubtedly must be one of such. The entire content of the police statement is fabricated and meant to further spread their mischief. The general public is therefore urged to disregard it and treat it as a vile lie that it is.

    This year’s Quds Procession was peacefully conducted in at least 30 Nigerian towns and cities, including Kaduna, Kano, Zaria, Sokoto, Katsina and Jos to mention a few. It was the same in Abuja. The only difference being that a combined team of security forces, in keeping with their diabolic schemes and in a show of shame, tracked participants on their way home after the procession had ended, to indiscriminately and without provocation open fire. As a result, many participants were injured, while scores were arrested, simply for participating in a peaceful procession that had ended without any incident. All that these participants were carrying with them were Palestinian flags and banners with inscriptions of solidarity with the oppressed people.

    It should be noted that this is not the first time the FCT Police Command was framing such a trumped-up charge against members of the Islamic Movement. In 2019, they killed a news reporter and a Senior police officer and alleged that both were murdered by members of the Islamic Movement. Evidence, including an autopsy report, later proved that both were killed by police bullets. Additionally, they were unable to prove their allegation in a court of law, where they falsely charged over 60 members of the Islamic Movement.

    Finally, we hereby demand the unconditional release of all the scores of innocent members of the Islamic Movement the police wrongly arrested and are in its custody. We also hold the NPF directly responsible for all those injured as police seemingly shot to punish them for participating in a peaceful procession.

  • El-Zakzaky’s wife tests negative for COVID-19

    El-Zakzaky’s wife tests negative for COVID-19

    Mrs Zeenat El-Zakzaky, wife of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has tested negative for COVID-19 virus.
    The Acting Controller-General, NCoS, Mr John Mrabure, disclosed this in statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Controller of Corrections, (CC) Mr Francis Enobore on Monday in Abuja.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zeenat was said to have contracted the virus while in custody in Kaduna prompting a call for her evacuation to an NCDC isolation centre in the state.
    According to Mrabure, although the order was later reversed. Not convinced with the purported infection story, the Correctional Service insisted on conducting COVID-19 test.
    This, he said, was in collaboration with the state government, her personal physician and the NCDC in the state.
    “Happily, the test result has been released and the inmate, including her contacts have no trace of COVID-19 virus.
    “It is important to state with emphasis that Zeenat El-Zakzaky never contracted COVID-19 infection as it was alleged, ” he said.
    Mrabure, however, expressed his deep appreciation to members of the public for their cooperation in obeying the restriction guidelines to custodial centres.
    He assured the public that the Service would continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols and strengthen efforts with prevention measures to curtail spread of the virus into any custodial centre.
  • El-Zakzaky’s wife tests positive for COVID-19 in prison

    El-Zakzaky’s wife tests positive for COVID-19 in prison

    Wife of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Zinat has tested positive for COVID-19, it was learnt on Thursday.

    Ibrahim EL-Zakzaky and his wife, were charged for alleged conspiracy and abating culpable homicide, among other related offenses.

    Ever since the duo returned from a failed medical trip in India, Kaduna State government have kept them in the state correctional facility.

    EL-Zakzaky’s son, Mohammed who confirmed the condition of his mother, Zinat through a statement he personally signed and made available to reporters said: “six days ago after a routine visit to the Kaduna State prison by my parent’s doctors, my mother complained of fatigue, fever and a complete loss of the ability to smell. The doctors decided to carry out a number of standard tests in order to understand what the problem was. Among the tests that were carried out was a test for Covid-19.

    “This was a routine procedure and it is important to understand that she has been denied treatment for acute medical conditions including severe arthritis of the knee for years now.

    “The Covid-19 test came back positive. I imagined that due to the diligent way in which the prison management had been conducting and managing the facility, a Covid-19 outbreak would be extremely unlikely. Because we have been doing our own due diligence and taking all possible measures at all times, we imagined that they were safe from the clear and present danger of Covid-19.To the best of my knowledge the prison authorities have also been doing the same.”