State High Court, sitting in Kaduna has on Monday adjoined the trial of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, (IMN), otherwise known as Shiite, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and Zinat Ibrahim El-Zakzaky indefinitely by the presiding Judge, Justice Gideon Kurada.
It would be recalled that El-Zakzaky and wife, are standing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace, among other allegations.
It was gathered that Justice Gideon Kurada, adjourned the case indefinitely, following his appointment to serve as the judge in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Yobe.
The defense counsel, Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said, aside the absence of the trial Judge, his Clients (El-Zakzaky and wife Zinat), were in dire need of medical attention, the reason they could not appear in court.
According to him, ” my clients had not been receiving adequate medical care since Dec. 14, 2015 when they were detained.
“The Case had to be adjourned as both my clients need time to attend to their health,”Falana said.
It was also gathered that the court had on Tuesday , Jan. 22, ordered the Kaduna State Government to avail the IMN leader and his wife Zinat, access to medical care.
The judge had on that date also accepted the withdrawal of charges against the third and fourth defendants, Yahya Yakubu and Sunusi Abdulqadir, who were standing trial alongside the IMN leader
Prosecution counsel, Dari Bayero had told newsmen after the proceedings that they had withdrawn the charges against the third and fourth defendants.
Bayero added that the court had asked the prosecution to amend its charges to conform with the new development.
