Court frees nine El-Zakzaky followers on trial for ‘unlawful assembly’ in Kaduna

A Kaduna state high court has discharged nine members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) arrested in 2016.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ibrahim Musa, IMN spokesperson, said the accused were arrested on their way to observe the Islamic rite of Ashura in Kaduna.

The IMN members, including two women, were arraigned in September 2016 on charges bordering on “being members of the Islamic Movement, unlawful assembly and intent to disturb the public among others”.

“In his judgment, Justice Nyoms, said the prosecution didn’t prove any of the charges against any of those standing trial,” Musa said.

“This recent favourable judgement adds to the number of landmark cases in which the government has failed to convict any member of the Islamic Movement for any crime in various courts across the country since the Zaria massacre of December 2015.

“So far, hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have been discharged and acquitted for alleged crimes including that of culpable homicide among others after proper trials in courts.

“Since the persecution of the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) commenced, the High Courts in Kaduna and Sokoto, as well as the Court of Appeal have discharged and acquitted 309 members of the Islamic Movement and dismissed the frivolous charges brought against them.

“This explains why the government has resorted to employing delay tactics in the prosecution of the remaining cases left in court including the one trying the leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky through deliberate attempts at frustrating the legal team of the Islamic Movement, led by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN and Mr. Maxwell Kyon, who have so far successfully defended and won all the cases against the government.

“We therefore call on the federal and state governments to withdraw the unfounded charges against our leader Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and others standing trial. They are toying with the lives of innocent citizens, which is an aberration in any democratic polity.”