The trial of the embattled leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, (IMN) Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife Zinat resumes today at the Kaduna State High Court sitting in the state capital.
El- Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since December 2015, following clashes between members of the IMN and the Nigerian Army in Zaria Kaduna State. They are being prosecuted by the Kaduna State government on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace among other charges.
On September 29, 2020, the IMN leader and his wife pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. The defendants through their lawyer, Marshall Abubakar who represented Femi Falana, the lead counsel, filed a no-case submission and asked the court to quash the case against them for lack of merit.
Abubakar submitted that the Kaduna State government has failed to “disclose an offence known to law contrary to Section 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended” against his clients. However, the presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada in his ruling, dismissed the no-case application.
