Femi Falana, lawyer to leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky said the man has not been released yet.
He was reacting to reports that the religious leader, who has been held by the DSS since December 2015, has been allowed to go, based on the Kaduna court decision today, allowing him and his wife, Zeenat to embark on a medical trip to India.
“He has not been released yet”, Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said in an SMS to our reporter.
Asked when the DSS would allow the religious leader to travel, the senior lawyer, said: “As soon as possible”.
His view corroborated the denial by one of the officials of the proscribed IMN that El-Zakzaky has been released.
Chairman of Free Zakzaky Campaign Committee of IMN, Sheikh Abdulrahman Abubakar, told Vanguard that the group is only aware that the DSS has been served certified true copies of the court ruling.
“The report we received a few minutes ago is that the DSS has acknowledged receipt of the Court ruling, and the security agency is currently in liaison with relevant authorities to find a way how to activate the judicial order fully. I can only tell you that we have not received Sheikh El-Zakzaky yet”.
Earlier reports quoting Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesman said El-Zakzaky had been released in compliance with the court order given today in Kaduna.
Justice Darius Khobo, in a much awaited ruling, ordered on Monday that the IMN leader be accompanied to India by officials of the Kaduna State government for medical treatment.
He, however, did not give any time frame as to how long they will stay in India.
But he said the IMN leader must return immediately after his discharge from the hospital to face his charges.
The IMN leader and his wife had applied to the court seeking to travel, following poor health while in detention.
The State Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Dari Bayero,said the team would study the judgement to see if there were grounds for appeal.
Bayero who is the respondent in El-Zazaky’s application, said the team had taken time and examined the eight medical reports by Nigerian and foreign doctors that accompanied the IMN leader’s application.
“The context of the court ruling is that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife are granted leave to travel out for urgent medical attention.
“The court looked through the medical reports filed and believed Mallam is indeed in dire need of medical attention.
“This is not a bail, but a leave to travel. So as soon as his discharge from the hospital and he returns to the country , his trial will resume,” he said.
Bayero said the team of lawyers would study the ruling and explore whether there is need for appeal. “We have a month to go through that.”
Mr Marshal Abubakar, counsel to El-Zakzaky recalled that before July 29, the lead counsel to the applicant , Femi Falana was in the court to move the application, which was adjourned to today.
” It is not a bail application as is being wrongly reported by some media, it was an application to save the life of the applicants, el-Zakzaky and his wife.”
According to him, “the ruling came up today and the court graciously agreed with Mr Femi Falana SAN and the various medical reports that were attached to the applications.
” There were eight medical reports that clearly shows the applicants are in dire need of medical treatment abroad.
“The court agreed that they should be allowed to seek for treatment that they seek for and with supervision,” Marshal said.
The IMN leader will be go for treatment at Medanta Hospital, New Delhi, India.
El-Zazaky had in the application said he and his wife would return to Nigeria as soon as they were discharged.
The DSS in a statement on Tuesday said it has received the order granting Ibrahim EL-ZAKZAKY leave to travel to India for medical treatment.
“Consequently, the Service is liaising with relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance. Conformity with the order is in line with the Service’s avowed commitment to the Rule of Law inherent in a democracy”, said Dr. Peter Afunanya, the PRO for the service.
