Shi’ite Violence: Lawyers Ask Court To Order El-zakzaky’s Wife Arrest

By Israel Abiodun, Abuja

A federal high court sitting in Abuja has been asked to order the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mrs. Zeenat El-Zakzaky, wife of the leader Shi’ite ‎movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky.

In suit number FHC/‎ABJ/CJ/189/2016, dated March 10, 2016, Mrs. El-Zakzaky was said to have made inciting statement after the killing of the members of the Movement and the arrest of her husband.

The plaintiff in the suit, Danbaba Gyang, who is also the Secretary General of Lawyers Alliance for the Defence of Democracy in Nigeria is also asking the court to declare the Iranian Ambassador in Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, a security threat to the country.

Joined as defendants in the matter are the Inspector -General of Police, Director-General of the DSS, the minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Samson Esekhaigbe, asked the court to determine whether the statement contained in an exhibit before the court is not capable of causing unrest and breach of the peace of Nigeria.

He also asked the court to determine the various threats issued by the Ambassador, also contained in an exhibit before the court as treasonable and should be investigated and if found wanting, the President‎ should be advised by the AGF to severe diplomatic ties with Iran.

The plaintiff also wants the court to declare that the IGP, DSS and the AGF have abdicated their duties by failing to investigate, arrest and prosecute‎ members and leaders of the Shi’ite Movement for breach of public peace and attempted assassination on the life of Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai in Zaria on Dec. 15, 2015.

He asked the court to prosecute Mrs. Zeenat and her husband for allegedly promoting acts, capable of causing unrest and public peace and also to declare the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria a persona non grata.

In the affidavit attached to the suit, deposed to by the plaintiff, he said that the lawlessness exhibited by the movement could have led to the death of Lt.Gen. Buratai, the COAS when they barricaded the Kaduna-Zaria Road in December last year when the convoy of the COAS was passing by.

He also said shortly after the leaders of the movement was arrested, the Iranian Ambassador took the front seat in the agitation for his release and in the process made inciting statements capable of undermining the sovereignty of Nigeria and fomenting trouble withing the Nigerian territory.