Shiite Sect: Falana slams DSS over El-Zakzaky
– Femi Falana has given the DSS 24 hours to release Mr El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Shiite Islamic sect
– Mr El-Zakzaky alongside his wife has been in detention since December 2015
El-Zakzaky injured during Nigerian army raid
Frontline human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked Nigeria’s secret police, State Security Service to release the Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the detained leader of the Shi-ite sect, and his wife, Zeenat unconditionally.
Recall that Mr El-Zakzaky alongside his wife has been in detention since December 2015, after a violent clash between members of his sect and the Nigerian army.
Falana in a letter published by Premium Times said the DSS should release both persons with 24 hours.
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“Even though our clients have not been told that they breached any law, they have been denied access to their lawyers, personal physicians, and family members for over three months,” Mr. Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said in the letter dated April 5.
“Our clients were only permitted to meet with us last Friday after several requests made by us had been turned down without any legal basis,” the lawyer said.
He added that in 2014 resulted in a detachment of the Nigerian Army killing three of Mr. El-Zakzaky’s children and in the December 12 clash, another 3 children of El-Zakzay’s were killed.
“The troops set the building ablaze and killed three of our clients’ children in their presence and thereby subjected them to untold mental agony.
“Thereafter, the armed soldiers shot our clients several times. As a result of the brutal attack, Sheikh Zakzaky lost his left eye while doctors are currently battling to save the right one.
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“To compound the physical pain and mental anguish that our clients were subjected to in the circumstance, the Nigeria Police Force and State Security Service have held them incommunicado for the past three and half months.”
More than 300 members were believed to have been killed in the attack, which the army initially described as an attempt to assassinate Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff.
The military later released an edited video showing angry youth, armed with sticks and cutlasses, arguing with some army officers over the right of way for Mr. Buratai’s convoy.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has debunked allegation that it was responsible for the current fuel scarcity in the country.
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