In a statement by the CfHD Director, Dr Umar Abubakar on Monday, the group said the government had not returned the passports of the Shiites leader and his wife to them since the medical trip which was allegedly scuttled by the government in 2018.
The Coalition for Human Rights Development (CfHD) has urged the US Embassy, and British and Canadian High Commissions to facilitate the release of the passports of Shiites leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, to enable them to travel abroad for medical attention.
In a statement by the CfHD Director, Dr Umar Abubakar on Monday, the group said the government had not returned the passports of the Shiites leader and his wife to them since the medical trip which was allegedly scuttled by the government in 2018.
Abubakar said both the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have denied being in possession of the couple’s travelling documents since their release following the ruling of a Kaduna High Court.
The duo were detained for over five years and were being prosecuted for alleged culpable homicide among other charges following a clash between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as Shiites and soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State, in December 2015.
The Kaduna State High Court, under Justice Gideon Kuradah, had in a ruling on July 28, 2021, said the Kaduna State government failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants, and accordingly discharged and acquitted them.
However, after their release, the state government filed fresh charges against them at the Federal High Court, bordering on alleged terrorism and treasonable felony.
The CfHD lamented that “three months after being discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State High Court, El-Zakzaky, and his wife, were yet to travel abroad for medical treatment as their international passports are still being held by security agencies and a new one has not been issued to them.
“Both the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have denied being in possession of the international passports of the couple.”
The statement alleged that during the botched medical trip to India three years ago, “as granted by the Kaduna High Court, the travel documents were promptly seized on arrival by these security agencies.”
“We hope this is not another evil machination of those in the corridors of power in Nigeria to deny the couple access to medical treatment,” the group said.
Abubakar said for about six years, medical reports have indicated that the health conditions of the Islamic leader and his wife have deteriorated, prompting a need for them to travel overseas for treatment.
“That was the basis for the Kaduna State High Court granting them medical leave which was later scuttled by the government in 2018.
“Coalition for Human Rights Development and other lovers of justice across the world are getting agitated once again because of these obnoxious developments including what appears to be placing the duo under house arrest by the Government.
“Hence, we call on the international community, especially the US, UK and Canadian governments to prevail on the government to release the passports of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife,” Abubakar said.
He urged the Nigerian government to release their passports or issue new ones to them, saying it would enable them to travel to a foreign hospital of their choice without any further delay.