Kaduna closes case against El-Zakzaky, asks court to convict him

The Kaduna state government has asked a high court in the state to convict Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace, among others.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The couple have been in detention since 2015, after IMN supporters clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna.

At the resumed trial on Wednesday, Dari Bayero, prosecution counsel, closed his case after calling the 15th witness.

“Our last witness has testified and the state has closed its case,” he said, while speaking to journalists after the proceedings.

“We are satisfied with the way the case has gone so far. We have presented 15 witnesses, including army generals who are key actors and players that led to the filing of the case against the IMN leader.

“As far as the state is concerned, it has tendered all the exhibits, and witnesses have come before the court and tendered evidence against the defendants.

“One of our prayers is that the court should overrule the no-case-submission, overrule the defence, convict the defendants accordingly, and pass the necessary sentence as provided for in the law.”

The case has been adjourned till May 21 for the accused persons to open their defence.

However, Marshal Abubakar who represented Femi Falana, the lead counsel for the defendants, has indicated that he would be filing a no-case submission on behalf of his clients.