Wonders shall never end! It could be recalled that Justice Gabriel Kolawole had on December 2, 2016 ordered the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and his wife, Malama Zeenah Ibraheem from the illegal detention of DSS and payment of N50 million as ransom within 45 days which expired on Monday 16th of January. The DSS failed to obey the court order to free Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife as the court ruling suggested. This is a step on the rule of law and threat to democracy. Having failed to obey the court order, not posterior than today 27th January, a breaking news knocked the web indicating that the Federal Government appealed the court ruling of freedom for Zakzaky. I wonder what the appeal is all about.The DSS said before Justice Gabriel Kolawole that Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife are in protective custody with their consent. The "protective custody" as said by the DSS doesn't exist in our law. After some months of sittings and adjournments of the case, the judge concluded that Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife must be released within 45 days because the DSS has no right whatsoever to keep Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife incommunicado.
Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife were abducted following a preplanned attack by the Nigerian Army at their residence which claimed the lives of about 1000 followers of Sheikh Zakzaky (H) on 12-14 December, 2015. The Nigerian Army also killed 3 more of Sheikh Zakzaky's sons brutally in cold blood while he watches. These 3 are in addition to the 3 killed during the Quds day procession of 25th July, 2014 by the same coward Nigerian Army, making it 6 within 2 years. The Nigerian Army also burnt Sheikh Zakzaky's elder sister and a nephew to death. They finally abducted him together with his wife and later handed them over to the DSS on 15th of December 2015. Since then, Sheikh Zakzaky was kept incommunicado without access to medical attention even as he is struggling to survive life threatening injuries which include a gun shot in the eye.
None of the Nigerian Army or the DSS was able to file any case against Sheikh Zakzaky (H) or his wife before any court of law to date, more than a year after. Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife filed cases before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking for their fundamental human rights. Having no factual reason for detaining them, the DSS said that they are keeping them in "protective custody" with their consent. Justice Gabriel Kolawole finally judged and ordered for the release of the respondents within 45 days and payment of N25 million each as ransom. Instead of obeying the court order, the DSS remain silent for more than 55 days. Just today 27th of January, they appealed the court judgement. I wonder what the appeal is all about. Justice Kolawole's judgement was very fair in favor of the appellants. He even gave a chance of over two months for an out of court reconciliation, but the appellants turned a deaf ears. What does the DSS want again? Must Sheikh Zakzaky be kept in "protective custody" even if he don't want? Since they don't have any case to file against him, why not release him?
The actions of the Nigerian security agencies is degrading the image of Nigeria in the eyes of the world. Refusal to obey court's judgement by the Government is a worst form of threat to democracy. I therefore call on the DSS to stop beating around and stop displaying their nescience and irresponsibility. Let them Free Zakzaky and his wife immediately. "Enough Is Enough". Let's keep the streets busy until Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife are released.
Muhammad Darazo
muhddarazo@yahoo.com
+2348032340282
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