The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), on Thursday, accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of unlawfully denying its Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, of their freedom after a Kaduna court vindicated them.
Dr. Dauda Nalado made the allegation in a statement signed on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Abuja.
The statement is titled: “Exactly a Year Since Kaduna High Court Judgment, Yet Buhari Regime Withholds Sheikh El-Zakzaky’s Travel Documents.”
According to IMN, we would like to inform the public that in spite of the favourable judgment of Kaduna State High Court delivered by Justice Gideon Kurada on the 28th of July, 2021, the Buhari regime has refused to return or reissue the travel documents of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife.
“The historic judgement frees the couple without a single condition attached.
“But reliable information reaching us reveals that tyrant Buhari has placed a travel ban on the freed, notwithstanding their critical health challenges.
“It is pertinent to let the public know that the freedom of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife is still on the periphery, cruelly delayed and unlawfully denied,” the group alleged.
It stated further that the public are fully aware of the 2015 Zaria massacre executed from 12th to 14th December.
“It was an ‘all-out-war’ to eliminate the Sheikh and dislodge the Islamic movement under his distinguished tutelage.
“The Nigerian Army under Buhari’s direct command invaded the Husainiyyah along Sokoto road, the Dambo-film-village-farmyard-cum-martyrs’ graveyard and Sheikh El-Zakzaky’s Gyallesu residence, all in Zaria.
“They killed his followers in excess of a thousand, and set the house ablaze.
“Against all odds, the prime target, his wife and several other family members survived the arson and all that unprecedentedly brutal attack.
“Yet, no sooner had four soldiers ‘discovered’ the whereabouts of the survivors in a laundry room than they started to rain bullets on them, instantly killing three of his sons, leaving the Sheikh and his wife “waiting to die” from the lethal gunshot wounds, but they are still alive with multiple health complications that could not be treated here in Nigeria, therefore very much in need of urgent medical attention abroad.
“Justice was delayed and prolonged for more than 5 years, but at last the court discharged and acquitted the Sheikh and his wife.
“Following the court triumph, the couple’s immediate preoccupation has been to cater for their medical needs abroad but their passports have been seized and denied for a year now.
“Buhari woefully failed using the barrel of a gun, and equally through trumped-up charges in the court.
“However, the Buhari-led regime perseveres in its attempt at pushing the contract to kill Sheikh El-Zakzaky to a success by depriving the Sheikh and his wife their travel documents, robbing them of the right to travel overseas for proper medication,” IMN further alleged.
The group, therefore, demanded unconditional removal of travel ban on their leader and wife by the government.
“In view of the foregoing, we demand for unconditional removal of the travel ban and release of the couple’s passports,” IMN said.
