By Abdullahi Isah Wasagu
As it has since been published in National dailies, today Thursday 5th of December 2019 is the day fixed for the return to court of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria for the continuation of his trial at Hight Court 4, situated along k Taiwo, Kaduna.
The order was issued by the court at its resumed sitting today Thursday 5th of December 2019 after counsel to the Sheikh, Femi Falana SAN, who was represented by Barrister Harun Magashi alerted that, he had been denied access to his client since after 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 H. Magashi, “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 call."
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 4, 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.
It could be recalled Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been in detention for 4 years now, over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other multiple of charges since December, 2015 after Army launched what can be described as all an out war between the peaceful members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the armed and ready combat Solders in December 12th 2015, where hundreds of faithful followers of the Sheikh were extra judicially killed, severely injured the Sheikh with live ammunitions and whisked him away.
A matter that is being seen on the pretext of road blockage to the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenet General Tukur Buratai in Zaria.