Court Fixes Aug 5 For Ruling On Ibrahim El-Zakzaky Bail Application

Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court, on Monday, adjourned to August 5, ruling in the application for permission to travel to India for medical attention filed by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zinat.

The Islamic cleric was absent in court.

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria leader and his wife applied for medical bail, citing poor health while in detention.

Counsel to the respondents, who are also the Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Dari Bayero, briefed newsmen shortly after the court hearing in Kaduna.

Bayero said the adjournment was a sequel to the argument put forth by counsel to both parties on the application.

He said that his team had examined the eight medical reports by both Nigerian and foreign doctors that accompanied the IMN leader’s application.

According to him, they had argued that there are several medical facilities in the country that can handle the medical needs of the IMN leader and his wife.

Justice Khobo had granted the request of the Kaduna State government to review and respond to El-Zakzaky’s bail application.

Meanwhile, counsel to the applicants, Femi Falana (SAN), told newsmen after Monday’s adjournment that his clients, El-Zakzaky and wife Zinat, were in dire need of medical attention.

Falana said that his clients had not been given adequate medical care since their detention on December 14, 2015.

He expressed concerns over the “continued deteriorating condition” of his client’s health, who he said had already lost an eye and about to also lose the second one if nothing is done.

According to him, pellets of bullets are still in his clients’ bodies since 2015 and need to be removed.

Falana explained that the IMN leader was not in court because his health was “very bad,” noting that even during the last appearance, he could not climb the staircase to the courtroom.

“That is why we applied that he be excused from the appearance in court and was granted.

“The pellets had resulted to lead poison and need to be urgently removed by highly professional medical personnel,” Falana said.

He expressed the hope that the court would grant El-Zakzaky and his wife permission to travel for urgent medical care.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the IMN leader had sought to go to Medanta Hospital, New Delhi, India, for medical attention following his failing health condition.

El-Zakzaky in the application said he and his wife would return to Nigeria as soon as they are discharged.

NAN reports that the IMN leader is standing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace, among other charges in another court headed by Justice Gideon Kurada.

The case was adjourned indefinitely on April 25 to enable the judge to serve on the panel of the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Yobe.

Before the indefinite adjournment, the court had, on January 22, ordered the Kaduna State Government to avail the IMN leader and his wife Zinat access to medical care.

(NAN)