Abuja – The Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on Tuesday, petitioned the National Human Rights Commission over government’s non-implementation of the judgment to release Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky from detention.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zakzaky is the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
Justice Gabriel Kolawale had, in December 2016, delivered a judgment wherein the Federal Government was ordered to release Zakzaky and his wife from detention, provide him with accommodation and pay him N50 million.
Shuaibu Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of the group, said that the 45 days within which the judgment gave for the unconditional release of Zakzaky had elapsed and he was still in detention.
Ahmed said the continued detention of Zakzaky was illegal and unconstitutional as it infringes and tramples on his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution.
“The sheikh has been unlawfully held under deteriorating health condition with gunshot wounds which he sustained during the attack on his residence in Zaria.”
He said that Zakzaky lost an eye in the attack and was now at the risk of losing the other eye, yet, was being denied access to his doctors.
“There is a miscarriage of justice when it is delayed,” Ahmed said.
He called on Nigerians to prevail on government to release the leader of the Islamic movement.
Responding, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Oti Ovrawah, said that the commission would pass their complaint to the government and advice it appropriately.
She urged them to ensure peaceful conduct of the protest to avoid violence erupting.
Zakzaky was arrested in December 2015 following an impasse between his movement and the Nigerian Army in Zaria.