EU tells FG release El-Zakzaky or charge him to court now

The European Union has called for the immediate release of the Shiites leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky,The EU urged the Nigerian government to release the Shiite leader or charge him to court The EU also said it is worried that El-Zakzaky has been detained for one year and is yet to get justice.

The European Union urged the Nigerian government to release El-Zakzaky or formally charge him to court

The European Union has called for the immediate release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shiites Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

EU said the continued detention of the Shiite leader is a breach of fundamental human rights of El-Zakzaky as a Nigeria.

EU’s concern comes few days after the deadline given by a Federal High Court in Abuja to release the Shiite leader elapsed.

Justice Gabriel Kolawale had in a ruling given the Nigerian government, the police and the State Security Services (SSS) 45 days to release El-Zakzaky and his wife Zainab.

The order which was made on December 2, 2016, elapsed on Monday, January 16.

The Shiite leader was arrested after the December 5, 2015, clash between troops attached to the convoy of the chief of army staff and the group members in Zaria, Kaduna state.

However, EU in a statement released on Tuesday, January 24, called on the Nigerian government to release El-Zakzaky in accordance to the court’s ruling or be formally charged to court.“The EU Heads of Mission note that the decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering Mr. Ibrahim El-Zakzaky’s immediate release from custody by the State Security Service has not been enforced,” the EU said.

“The EU underlines the universality of fundamental human rights, which includes the right to a fair trial and freedom from arbitrary detention. We find it worrying that Mr. Zakzaky has been detained for more than a year without having been brought to Justice.

“We therefore urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure Mr. Zakzaky is released in accordance with the ruling of the court or is charged formally in accordance with Nigerian law and faces an impartial and balanced trial without further delay.“We encourage transparency and believe it is important that the findings made by all past or ongoing investigations into the violence that occurred in Zaria in December 2015 are published.

“The EU Heads of Mission are of the view that all those responsible for the violence must be prosecuted according to the law and that anyone found guilty must be sentenced accordingly.

“The right to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the right to free speech is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. The EU Heads of Mission also remind Nigeria that it is essential to promote religious tolerance and respect religious rights.

“The EU Heads of Mission will continue to follow the judicial situation of Mr. Zakzaky and his wife closely,” the statement said.