The movement also directed its members to resume protests across the country to demand the release of their passports seized by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria otherwise called Shi’ites has kicked against the continued seizure of the passports of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, two years after they were discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State High Court.
The movement also directed its members to resume protests across the country to demand the release of their passports seized by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
A statement signed by Fatima Aliyu Adam at the weekend in Abuja on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement said it is obvious that President Buhari has no respect or regard for court orders.
It added that the movement can no longer fold its arms and allow the continued violation of the rights of their leader and his wife.
The movement, while enumerating a series of court orders flagrantly violated by the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC), called on the international community to prevail over the Nigerian government to allow the couple to seek medical attention abroad.
The statement reminded the public that the scholar and his wife had multiple life-threatening health challenges as a result of the Zaria massacre of December 2015.
The statement noted that El-Zakzaky still has bullets lodged in his bodies, and fractures of the bullets are releasing poison into his blood.
The statement read in part, "The health situation of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife does not only require qualified medical professionals but also a medical facility with up-to-date equipment.
"It is obvious that the Buhari regime has no respect or regard for court orders; hence, we are calling for more protests to demand the release of travel documents of Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) and his wife Zeenah Ibraheem, as well as removing the travel ban placed on them.
“On December 2, 2016, the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered the unconditional release of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife;
"We would like to inform the public that despite several court judgments that ordered the unconditional release of His Eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H) and his wife Zeenah Ibraheem, the Buhari regime continues to violate their rights by placing a travel ban on them and seizing their international passports.
"On August 5, 2019, the Kaduna State High Court ordered the couple's release in order for them to visit an Indian hospital for medical treatment, which was frustrated by the Buhari regime.
"On February 24, 2020, the Kaduna High Court affirmed the couple unfit for trial, so an order was given directing the officials of the central prison in Kaduna to grant them access to their doctors, but all to no avail; and on July 28, 2021, the Kaduna High Court discharged and acquitted the couple of all the allegations levelled against them.
"The ruling of the Kaduna High Court that discharged and acquitted the couple serves as another opportunity for them to travel for medical treatment, but the Buhari regime decided to frustrate the court judgment by directing the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to continue withholding the international passports of the couple."