June 14th: Court Sets Date For Zakzaky Vs DSS Fundamental Human Rights Case

Several other Nigerians like Mrs Zeenat Zakzaky and her husband have been held without charge or trial for over three months

NewsRescue

By Abdulmumin Giwa

This is to make public the most recent development in the case between Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and the State Security Service and two others.

Hearing in a case of fundamental human rights violation filed against the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Police Force and Attorney General of Federation by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky is to begin on the 14th of June 2016 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

This was ruled by the presiding judge Justice Gabriel Kolawale after the respondents in the case failed to appear in court for the mention of the case.

Loaded in a wheel barrow
Loaded in a wheel barrow

This followed a motion by the head of the Counsels representing Sheikh Zakzaky, Femi Falana SAN that the respondents have not indicated their wish to oppose the application filed against them during the mentioning of the case before Justice Kolawale.

Falana SAN stated that having been served with all the processes since the 3rd of May 2016 in the case of the 1st and 2nd respondent and on the 6th of May in the case of the 3rd respondent hearing could commence.

The judge instructed that the respondents be served with fresh hearing notice against the fixed date for hearing in the case insisting on need to hasten up as the case borders around fundamental human rights in which delay is discouraged.

In a similar case between the wife of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, Malama Zeenat Ibrahim and the same respondents, the same positions were held by the court in which hearing will also commence on the 14th of June 2016.

These are some of the series of cases filed by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN calling for the enforcement of the fundamental human rights of the leader of the Movement and his wife against the DSS, NPF and AGF.

Falana SAN told newsmen in Abuja that the rights of his clients have been trampled upon since they were held in detention by the DSS for the past five months from 14th of December 2014.

He further expressed confidence that justice shall reign at the end of the case saying “I have confidence in the judiciary”.

The case is seeking the immediate release of the leader of the Movement and his wife as well as the payment of damages to each of them in the sums of N2b.