Zakzaky ‘would have lost his life’ if court didn’t grant him permission to travel

Abdurrahman Yola, chairman of free Zakzaky campaign committee, says Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), and Zeenat, his wife, would have lost their lives if the court had denied or delayed the medical leave granted to them.

On Monday, a high court in Kaduna state had ruled that El-Zakzaky and his wife be allowed to travel to India for medical treatment.

In a statement, Yola described the ruling as a victory for “our dogged determination, patience and perseverance in the face of extreme persecution”.

“Today, Monday 05/08/19 we obtained a favourable judgement in the ruling on application specifically seeking for the court’s permission to allow Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat Ibrahim to seek urgent medical treatment outside this country,” he said.

“This ruling is not only a vindication that leaving all doors open to obtain favourable outcomes works, but it is a victory for our dogged determination, patience and perseverance in the face of extreme persecution. It is a victory for truth and justice against tyranny and impunity.

“It will be recalled that the applicants are known to be clearly very ill in detention, consequent on the brutal wounds unjustifiably inflicted on them by the state agents in the name of Nigerian army, the resultant prolonged dehumanizing detention in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the obvious poisoning of the Sheikh.

“As a result of all these physical and psychological stresses, the Sheikh suffered a series of mild strokes and is at the risk of further recurrences.

“Meanwhile, he lost one eye following the military attack and is at a severe risk of losing sight completely in the other. He is now found to have more than twenty times the toxic levels of lead poison in his body!

“Similarly, the wife has been under excruciating pains with shrapnel deeply lodged in her body for all these years of inhuman conditions in detention. She now is able to ambulate only with the use of a wheelchair.

“Undoubtedly, both risk losing their lives had this favourable ruling been denied or further delayed.”

The IMN said they expect the federal government to act urgently by respecting the constitution and the ruling of the court.

Zakzaky has been in detention since 2015.