Court to hear El-Zakzaky’s suit June 14

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed June 14 for hearing of a suit filed by the detained leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole had adjourned the case following the absence of the respondents in court.

Counsel to the applicant, Femi Falana (SAN) did not object to the adjournment.

El-Zakzaky was arrested and detained following a confrontation between the group and soldiers, which resulted in several deaths and destruction of properties on December 12 and 14, 2015.

In a fundamental rights application by the chambers of Femi Falana, El-Zakzaky argued that his arrest and continued detention since December 14, 2015, without charging him to a properly constituted court of law was illegal and unconstitutional.

He added that it was a violation of his fundamental human rights to fair hearing as enshrined in section 36 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

He argued further that: “The arrest of the leader of the movement on December 14, 2015, and his continued detention till date without access to his medical doctor is unconstitutional and it violates his fundamental rights to personal liberty and health as enshrined in section 35 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, (as amended) and articles 6 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A10) Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.