Femi Falana (SAN), Human Rights lawyer and counsel to the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, on Thursday, appealed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to use his good office to facilitate the release of his client and his wife.
Falana's appeal was contained in a letter addressed to Malami on January 2, 2020. Falana said that the request was made in line with the pledge of President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the rule of law.
Vanguard recalls that Buhari had in his New Year message to Nigerians promised to respect the rule of law and create enabling environment and security for the growth and development of the country. With this new promise, Falana quickly asked Malami to use his power to secure the release of El-Zakzaky, the same way the convener of #RevolutionNow Protest, Omoyele Sowore and Dasuki were released last week.
“In view of the recent decision of the federal government to comply with all court orders we have the instructions of our clients to request you to ensure compliance with the valid and subsisting orders of the federal high court and Kaduna state high court concerning them which are set out hereunder.
“On December 2, 2016, the federal high court presided over by the Honourable Justice G. O. Kolawole (now of the Court of Appeal) declared illegal and unconstitutional the arrest and detention of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Hajia Zeinat El-Zakzaky by armed soldiers.
“Consequently, the Court awarded them N50 million damages for their illegal detention, ordered the state security service to release them from custody forthwith and provide them with a house since the Nigerian Army had burnt down and demolished their house in Zaria, Kaduna State. Without any legal basis whatsoever the federal government refused to comply with the aforesaid court orders. Curiously, the contemptuous acts of the federal government were publicly defended by your good self and some other high ranking officials of the Buhari administration.”
He further wrote: “Following the release of Mr. Omoyele Sowore and Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) from illegal custody last week you were reported to have said that our clients could only be released by the Kaduna State government.
“With respect, your position has failed to take cognisance of the fact that your office, the Presidency and the state security service had, up till last month, repeatedly given contradictory reasons to justify the disobedience of the aforesaid court orders for the release of our clients.
“In view of the foregoing, we urge you to use your good offices to review your position and ensure the immediate and unconditional compliance with the valid and subsisting orders of the federal high court and the Kaduna State High Court concerning our clients. This request is in line with the new policy of the Buhari administration to operate under the Rule of Law.”