Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, on Monday, have demanded the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat.
They demanded that President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai should free their leader because their day of reckoning was drawing near.
A leader of the IMN, Yunusa Lawal, during a press conference on Monday in Kaduna said:
“We would like to let El-Rufai and his master know that the day of reckoning is very near indeed. Justice will be served and no amount of blackmail and misuse of state power could avert this whirlwind of justice from catching up with them all.
“We will intensify our peaceful campaigns until justice is done to the victims of Zaria genocide of December, 2015 and Sheikh Zakzaky and all those still being held regain their freedom.”
The IMN, also known as Shi’ites, further dismissed the statement made by the Attorney General of Kaduna State, Aisha Dikko.
Aisha had earlier stated that the state had no intention of dropping the charges against El-Zakzaky and his wife who are standing trial at the state high court. Noting that the fate of the Shi’ites’ leader would be determined by the court.
Lawal noted that since the detention of El-Zakzaky, the government has kept on fabricating more lies to detain the IMN leader and his wife.
Lawson said:
“With the increasing pressure on the Buhari regime from home and abroad, occasioned by the decision of the International Criminal Court at The Hague to investigate the crimes against humanity committed by this regime during the Zaria massacre of 2015, there have been increased efforts at belittling the matter and trivialising the issues.”
“In this his warped position, he insinuated that so long as he remained the Kaduna State governor, Sheikh Zakzaky would remain in detention. According to the governor, Sheikh Zakzaky is being tried for crimes he and his followers committed in the last 30 years in Zaria,”
“Firstly, the fabricated charges of inciting, aiding and abetting brought against him have been quashed by the high and appeal courts.
“Secondly, the Federal High Court had declared his detention as unconstitutional and therefore ordered his release. The government has remained in contempt of that order.
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“Thirdly, even when the Kaduna High Court granted the Sheikh medical leave, El-Rufai never conceded. He took measures to thwart the medical bail, putting stringent terms and conditions, independent of the courts.”