The Presidency has on Friday reaffirmed that the case of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-zakzaky is a judicial matter and as such, President Buhari lacks the power to direct the judiciary to release him. This followed as the presidency decline any comment pertaining weather the government was mulling proscribing the IMN organisation as it was meted on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) sometimes in 2017.
The IMN group have continued to stage protest across the country demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-zakzaky who has been in detention since December 2015 after a violent clash with the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna state.
When, Mallam Garba Shehu, the spokesperson of the presidency was contacted, he disclosed that the federal government position on the IMN has not changed.
In his remarks, “There is no latest that I know of. Government’s position hasn’t changed. El-Zakzaky is in the custody of the Kaduna State government. They are trying him in court for several alleged offenses. The Federal Ministry of Justice is not in this; President Buhari has no hand it.
He added, “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not give Mr. President power to stop investigations and trials, he can only pardon upon conviction. On the El-Zakzaky issue, this whole thing is in the domain of Kaduna State. If only they know,”
The presidency had earlier stated that the group was wrong that they were already in court and resort to violence at the same time in order to get justice for an accused.
