Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) have filed a suit that is reported to be in the region of N3b against the Nigerian Army, the DSS and the Attorney General of the Federation over the continued detention of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
He was arrested after the December 12, 2015 bloody clash, between the army and shiites.
The group claims that their leader’s continued detention is an infringement of his fundamental human rights. He along with his wife Zeenat and 200 other members have been in custody for months.
The movement is also demanding a three billion Naira monetary compensation, as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of El-Zakzaky’s fundamental rights.
Members of the movement, through their lawyers, described the detention of El-Zakzaky’s and his wife as ‘an infringement of their fundamental human rights to liberty and association’ as enshrined in the 1999 constitution and African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday after filing the petition, the lawyers led by Mr Festus Okoye said the Director General of the DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff were among those included in the petition.
The group in the petition is asking the court to direct the DSS, Police or army to release El-Zakzaky and others being held in their custody.
It is also being held that El-Zakzaky lost and eye and his left arm is paralysed and he was in a grave state when his lawyers went to see him.