Release El-Zakzaky, Dasuki, Falana Tells Osinbajo
By Andah John
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has asked acting President Yemi Osinbajo to order the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeinab, from detention.
In a letter to the acting President dated June 2, 2017, the senior lawyer also requested for the release of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).
The cleric and his wife, as well as Dasuki, have been in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) since December 2015.
El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested in Kaduna, after a clash between his movement and the entourage of General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff.
On his part, Dasuki is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of N13.6 billion of arms procurement deal. He served in the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Falana was the lawyer to El-Zakzaky and the cleric’s wife in their suit in which they obtained a December 2, 2016 judgment which ordered the release of the couple within 45 days.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole had also ordered the Federal Government to provide them with accommodation as their residence was alleged to have been burnt down by the Army and the Kaduna State Government.
The court had also awarded N50m as compensation for the illegal arrest and detention of the couple.
The judgment was flouted and still being violated by both the DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), who were both respondents to the suit.
Falana told Osinbajo that apart from the DSS flouting the court order, El-Zakzaky had lost his right eye and could lose the second owing to lack of medical care in detention.
