Shiites dismiss Osinbajo’s stance on detention of Sheikh El-Zakzaky

Insist On Immediate Release

Members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, have described as indefensible Federal Government’s position on continuous detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife.

The group said the attempt by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to justify the duo’s detention after a Federal High Court judgment is unacceptable, even as they called for the immediate release of Zakzaky and his wife.

The Shiites recalled how last Thursday, in a video clip posted on the official tweeter handle of the Presidency, Vice President Osinbajo, was seen defending FG’s refusal to comply with the court’s judgment that ordered their leader’s release from custody.

Reacting to the development, IMN spokesman, Mallam Musa Ibrahim in a statement, argued; “it is both curious and ridiculous that the VP, not only because of his professional calling, but also as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) should justify contempt of court on mere appeal of a judgment without a contrary ruling or stay of execution order from a superior court.”

IMN declared: “The case of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife is the worst case of human rights violation, with respect to the right of personal liberty since the colonial regime.

“It is the height of impunity that has ever been committed by a democratic government in this country, to detain without court order and without charges for fifteen months. It is even worse when a court has ordered the release of such a person, and the government contemptuously holds him.”

Also commenting on the matter, a top IMN cleric, Mallam Abdulmumunin Giwa, noted that the government was setting a bad precedence by disrespecting the judiciary and disregarding the Constitution, saying that it was fast becoming the tradition of the current Nigerian government, known for its poor human rights records and disobedient of court orders.