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About Sheikh Zakzaky’s Court Case

By Muhammad Darazo
Salaam Alaikum brothers and sisters. I will like to give you my personal analysis about the court case of Sheikh Zakzaky, which began hearing of the appeal made by the Government, against the ruling of Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court yesterday.

Recall, Sheikh Zakzaky was arrested since December, 2015, after what was undoubtedly a massacre, committed by the Nigerian Government, through the army. He was arrested after his 3 more sons and a nephew were murdered on his sight, his sister burned to death as she screamed, his wife severely injured by multiple gun shots, and himself, shot many times, including a shot in his left eye which pulled out the eye ball and made the eye gone. Later, all buildings and properties that belongs to him were raised to the ground, including his 3 son’s cemetery whom were murdered by the same army, his mother’s cemetery and the cemetery of his followers, among other properties.

About 2 months later, the Sheikh (H) through his lawyers filed a case against his detention by the Department of State Service (DSS) in the Federal High Court, Abuja. The Federal High Court kept adjourning the case until few days to a year after his arrest, then judgment was made against his detention. The court ordered for his release and payment of compensation because the only reason given by the Government for his detention in the court was that they were giving him a "protective custody with his consent".

The Government refused to comply with the court order. Some months later, we were told that the Government appealed the judgment. After the said appeal, months were spent before the case began hearing yesterday, more than 2 years after his arrest now.

My personal view and analysis is that the Government is just using the court to show to the world that there is a sign of justice in the issue of Sheikh Zakzaky (H). After the first seating of the Federal Court of Appeal about the case, the case was adjourned and no date was fixed for the next seating. It is important to understand that the court that is hearing the case of Sheikh Zakzaky now seats in 3 months interval. Therefore, the case will not be listened to again until at least, 3 months to come, if the case will be attended to in the next seating of the court. Otherwise, it may be 6 months.

The point I want to make here is that to me (personally), there is no hope in the court. Although the court can never rule against Sheikh Zakzaky, because the Government doesn’t have a case at all. But the Government is only using the court to show some signs of justice, especially in the eyes of the international community. The attorney general of the federation made it clear in a BBC interview that even if the Federal Court of Appeal rule against the Government, they will not release the Sheikh (H).

The court keeps adjourning the case in a wide range of time interval despite the fact that Sheikh Zakzaky (H) and his wife are in a very bad health condition, with bullets still in them. To me, court is just buying time for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration so that the case will reach the next election which is coming up 2019.

It is important to understand that even if the Federal Court of appeal rule against the Government, they can still appeal to the Supreme Court (according to the Nigerian Law). It may take much more time before the Supreme Court begin hearing for the case, and the court may also keep adjourning until after election. If they fail the election, they may decide to free the Sheikh few days or weeks before they leave office.

This is my personal view about the court case and I want the international community to know this.

Therefore, for all those who care about the Sheikh, the only option we have is to keep protesting and encouraging more people to protest through awareness all over the world especially in Nigeria and where those in authority of the Nigerian Government visits. We have seen the impact of the protests because, although, the government still attack the protesters, but the message is still going out. With the little of protests we have being doing these weeks, the Government let the Sheikh to have interview with the press in order to show us that he is alive. They are afraid of our protest. They have confessed. So we need to show them that yes, we are not afraid of their attacks. Let them do their worst, but we will stand for our leader.

Finally, I urge brothers and sisters to help those who can be able to come out and protest, especially in Abuja with at least the basic needs such as food and other things until our leader is freed.
Enough Is Enough!

#FreeZakzaky.

Muhammad Darazo