From AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
The Kaduna State High Court on Monday fixed April 23 and 24 for trial of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also called the Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat.
The court, presided over by Justice Gideon Kurada, was earlier informed by one of the defendants’ lawyers, Marshal Abubakar, that the couple were allegedly not given medical attention in prison custody.
The development prompted the trial judge to summon the Controller of the Kaduna Correctional Centre to appear before him.
He stood down the court’s proceedings for more than two hours.
Abubakar told reporters after court proceedings that the trial of his clients was again being frustrated by the state.
The lawyer alleged that the state did not allow the defendants to have access to their doctors, as ordered by the court.
“The matter was billed for today (Monday) for trial. Sheikh El-Zakzaky and Mallama Zeenat were supposed to take their pleas today and the charges filed by the state against the couple over the incidents that occurred on Tuesday, December 12 and 13, 2015.
Read Also: Court orders full medical care for El-Zakzaky, wife
“As at the last date, the state authorities had informed the court that they intended to call their witnesses today. Unfortunately, the trial was stalled by the state once again.
“On the last adjoined date, being February 6, 2020, the court ordered that the defendants should be allowed access to medical care to be provided by their (defendants’) medical practitioners in conjunction with the medical doctors nominated by the state Ministry of Justice and the prisons authorities.
“Unfortunately, it was brought to the court’s attention that the order was frustrated by the state – the Kaduna State government – and the prisons authorities, who had refused to allow doctors of El-Zakzaky and his wife to have access to them for medical examination,” he said.
But counsel to the state and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dari Bayero, told reporters that all “grey areas” had been resolved as the court had ordered that the couple be allowed access to their doctors.
He said: “There were some issues that arose in court. But all grey areas have been sorted out and the judge had given order that the personal physicians to the defendants be allowed access to them.
“Even if they want to go for scanning in any hospital, the Correctional Centre should provide security for them to be taken anywhere.
“The court had adjourned the matter till April 23 and 24, 2020, so that all the issues raised would have been done for the trial to commence.”
When asked why a plea had not been taken, Bayero said: “The court said it can only try sane and healthy defendants.
“Since there are issues raised about their health, the court had adjourned so that they can go and get better to access their personal physician, access the medical doctors they want…”
Justice Kurada adjourned the matter till April 23 and 24, 2020 for the trial to commence.
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