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Group urges FG to obey court order on El-Zakzaky

By Godwin Dunia and Yetunde Ayobami Ojo
13 December 2016   |   3:05 am
Following the court ruling declaring the detention of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik El Zakzaky illegal and ordering his release, human Rights group, Access to Justice has called on...
The leader of Islamic Movement of nigeria otherwise known as Shi''te, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

The leader of Islamic Movement of nigeria otherwise known as Shi”te, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Following the court ruling declaring the detention of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik El Zakzaky illegal and ordering his release, human Rights group, Access to Justice has called on the Federal Government to comply with the order.

The group also called on President Muhammadu Buhari “to walk back the culture of impunity and lawlessness that is hardening in its security institutions, bring those who have whimsically killed innocent Nigerians to justice, and show more respect for the rights of the people.”

The group’s Executive Director, Joseph Otteh who made the call in a statement, said further delay in releasing El Zakzaky would represent a direct and serious affront to the rule of law in a democratic government and a dangerous abuse of power.

Access to Justice also alleged: “The Nigerian military government is engaging in summary, arbitrary and extrajudicial executions of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“It is a major vilification of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy that those who ordered and perpetrated the attacks that resulted in these killings are still in office and exercising state authority till this time. It is also regrettable that the federal government could not be bothered to investigate the atrocities committed against the IMN group by its military forces.

“On the contrary, the government proceeded to detain and imprison El-Zakzaky and his spouse since December 2015, without charge. This irony beggars belief and greatly diminishes any claims of this government to respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights.”

The groups added that the continuing silence from the government, coming on the heels of several other “silences”, is non-the-less quite audible in its meaning and proclaims that human rights are expendable platitudes for the Buhari government.

“The Buhari government is steadily emboldening a climate of impunity in governance, and strengthening the hands of those who unleash brutal force against protesters.

“However, impunity will not “change” Nigeria for the better. Impunity breeds and feeds resentment and division, political and military conflict, radicalism and extremism and represents a revolving door for infinite cycles of violence. Impunity will change Nigeria for the worse!” the group declared.

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