The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky was on Tuesday arraigned before a Kaduna High Court 4 amidst tight security.
Sheikh Zakzaky who was in the court in company of his wife as early as 8:30am was said to have been smuggled into Kaduna the previous night from where he is being kept.
Speaking to the media, Counsel to Zakzaky, Barrister Maxwell Kyom, said the Cleric is being charged for unlawful gathering, criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable with death.
Barrister Kyom said the case could not continue because two of the Defendants were not in court. He said an oral application was moved for the bail of the Cleric and his wife, but the presiding Judge, Justice Gideon Kurada asked him to put his application in writing.
Journalists and sympathizers of the Shiites leader trooped to the court premises but were barred from entering, as the major roads leading to the court were condoned off. From the Yakubu Gowon Way by Bida road, two hilux of Kaduna state security outfit ‘Operation Yaki’ blocked the road and pedestrians who are not staff of the High Court were turned away.
A leader of the Shiites sect in Kaduna, Mallam Abdulhameed Bello said Sheikh Zakzaky was forcefully brought to Kaduna a night before the sitting.
According to him, members of the Movement were disappointed for his re-arraignment because in a substantive suit before an Abuja High Court, the court ruled that he should be released unconditional.
Mallam Bello disclosed that Sheikh Zakzaky is almost losing his two eyes and suffering from Diabetes and mild stroke.
“We call on the federal and Kaduna State Governments to as a matter of urgency obey the judgment of the Abuja court and release the Sheikh for peace to reign.
“We as a Movement will continue to use all peaceful means to put pressure on the government to see reason and allow Sheikh Zakzaky to go home and attend to his deteriorating health,” he said.
The case was adjourned to June 21, 2018 by the presiding judge, Justice Kurada based on application by the prosecutor for them to properly file their statement of claim.