The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied involvement in the
continued detention of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria,
Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife despite numerous court orders for
his release discarded by the President Muhammadu Buhari led
administration.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President
on media and publicity, the Presidency says the issue of El-ZakZaky was
before the court in Kaduna, urging his supporters to focus on his
ongoing trial instead of causing daily damages, disruptions and public
nuisance in Abuja.”
The Federal Government called on Shiite members to desist from needless
violent street protests and await the decision of the court in Kaduna
where their leader is currently being tried.
The statement reads in part, “It is wrong to be in court and resort to
violence at the same time to get justice for anybody accused.
“The destruction of public property in the name of protest is not within
the right of this group of Shiite members and no government anywhere
would have tolerated a situation where any group would take over public
roads in cities as they have done in Abuja and interfere with the rights
of other citizens who are prevented from reaching their destinations.
“We imagine a situation where families are taking their loved ones to
hospital for emergency treatment and they are held up needlessly by the
protesters. No government anywhere in the world would turn a blind eye
to this unlawful behaviour.
“As far as this country’s Ministry of Justice is concerned, the case
involving El-Zakzaky is no longer in its domain. The Federal Government
no more has hands in the matter and to that extent, the government at
the centre can be said to be clear of any alleged violations of court
orders as being trumpeted every day.”
Shehu added that the open protest was an embarrassment to the President
which will lead nowhere.
“These rallies and street dances ostensibly to openly insult the
President and other leaders, threatening bloodshed will lead nowhere
because President Buhari will not ask the country’s judiciary to abandon
due process and set a suspect free. At the same time, the administration
is determined to enforce the decision of the court issued. The Buhari
administration has absolutely no hand in the on-going court case and the
courts are free to determine the bail request and the outcome.
“The mentality that you are above the law and that your rights are
superior to other people’s rights is unacceptable.
“You can’t be provoking other citizens by interfering with their rights
on public roads and disrupting their businesses and call it democratic
freedom. In democratic traditions, their rights end where the rights of
others begin.
“Law-abiding citizens must avoid deliberate lawlessness. It is not
within the rights of any group to enter protected public institutions
such as the National Assembly by force to attack police and destroy
public and private property.
“It is always advisable to embrace dialogue and eschew violence in all
our actions so that we can continue to live together in peace.
“We, therefore, appeal to the Shiite group to stop deliberate
provocations that result in violence and fatalities and allow the trial
of El-ZakZaky to take its course.”