• Friday, May 03, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

DSS and Police stall El-Zakzaky’s matter with absence

DSS

Justice Gabriel Kolawole, of an Abuja Federal High Court has adjourned the hearing, on the infringement of fundamental human rights of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

The matter was however adjourned, when the court registrar informed the court that the respondents, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police were absent.

Upon this, the trial judge, Justice Kolawole adjourned the matter to Tuesday, June 14, 2016 for fore- mentioning.

In the suit filed by him against the DSS and the police, El-Zakzaky is seeking an order of the court restraining the respondents from further violating the applicant’s right in any manner.

The Shiite leader is also seeking an order, mandating the respondents to jointly pay the applicant N2billion as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of his rights.

The application also sought an immediate and unconditional release of the applicant by the first and second respondents.

El-Zakzaky and some of his followers had been detained by the police after a clash with the convoy of the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna state on December 5, 2015.

However, since El-Zakzaky’s detention there have been outcry and various protest aimed at calling for his release from police detention.

Also, following the clash, the kaduna state government constituted a commission of inquiry into the incidence with the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari stating that he would not comment on the matter until the report of the Kaduna state’s commission of inquiry is ready.