Breaking News: El-Zakzaky, wife absent at court during trial

The Nigeria leader of Shi’a group also known as Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat were absent today Monday at their resumed trial in Kaduna High Court, Kaduna state.

 In anticipation of the trial, there was evident beef up of security around the court and the entire Kaduna metropolis, where remaining witnesses including a GOC of the Nigerian Army were expected to be brought forth by the prosecuting Counsel, Dari Bayero.

Presiding Judge, Justice Gideon Kurada had on December the 11th, 2020, adjourned the case to January 25, 2021, after the prosecution counsel presented six witnesses before the court.

The prosecuting counsel had initially presented two witnesses from the Nigerian army who testified in secret before the court, while a Director from the state security services and three residents of Gyallesu in Zaria were among the four witnesses that were admitted as witnesses and cross-examined by the Defence Counsel, Femi Falana (SAN).

El-Zakzaky and his wife are facing trial on an eight-count charge bordering alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace among other charges, to which they both pleaded not guilty on 29th September, 2020.
Both of them are being detained at the Nigerian Correctional facility in Kaduna State on the orders of the court.

It would be recalled that, members of IMN group were seen last week, clamouring for the release of their leader’s wife, Zeenat, who had tested positive for COVID-19 in detention.

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