A Kaduna State High Court has ordered that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Ibrahim Zakzaky be moved to the Kaduna Convict Prison after his lawyers complained they were being denied access to him.
Daily Trust gathered that the IMN leader is being kept in a Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Kaduna where he has been since his return from India.
The court gave the order at the resumed sitting after counsel to the sheikh, Femi Falana SAN, who was represented by Barrister Haruna Magashi alerted that he had been prevented access to his client since his return from India.
He then urged the court to adjourn the matter to a later date so that they can speak with their client on next steps.
Counsel to the Kaduna State Government and Director of Public Prosecution, Dari Bayero insisted that the case continue since a lawyer in Zakzaky’s legal team, Sadau Garba saw him on Wednesday.
But Barrister Haruna further objected the matter and asked that the court give him five minutes to contact his principal on what to do next.
According to Haruna, “I called Falana but he did not pick his calls, so I called his aide and I was told that he is in court for the Sowore case and cannot pick calls. ”
Counsel to the state government however did not object the appeal to move the Sheikh to the Kaduna prison saying, “Since his being in a DSS facility is preventing contact with his client, it will be better he is moved so that the case can continue.”
Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court then granted the appeal and asked that Zakzaky be transferred to the Kaduna prison and adjourned the matter to 6th February for continuation of the trail.
Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been in detention over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other charge since December, 2015 when members of his movement blocked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai in Zaria
