Court to rule on Zakzaky’s bail application in October

A Kaduna state high court has fixed October 4 for ruling on the bail application for Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), and his wife, Zeenat.

Zakzaky has been in detention since December 2015 when members of IMN also known as Shi’ites, clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna state.

Over 300 people were said to have been killed as a result of the clash.

On May 15, the IMN leader and his wife were arraigned on an eight-count bordering on culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disturbance of public peace.

The Kaduna state government had filed the charges.

Gideon Kurada, the presiding judge, on Thursday adjourned the matter after Maxwell Kyon, counsel to the defendants, moved the application for the bail of the first and second defendants.

There was tight security at strategic points during the sitting of the court as armed security personnel barricaded major roads within the city to prevent any outbreak of law.

Journalists were denied access to the court room.

However, Kyon told journalists after the sitting that the defense counsel had filed a bail application to the court and the prosecution had also filed their response.

“We have moved application for bail for the first and second accused and are optimistic of getting bail for our clients,” Kyon said.

IMN has held a series of protests over the continued detention of its leader despite an order of the federal high court, Abuja, granting him bail.