Absence Of Judge Delays El-Zakzaky’s Trial

File Photo: Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Journalists Denied Access To Court In Ibrahim el-Zakzaky’s Case

The case of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, has been reported to have been stalled by the absence of Justice Gideon Kurada of a Kaduna High Court on Thursday.

The Kaduna State Government had brought eight charges against the Islamic Movement leader and his wife, they are both being charged for alleged conspiracy, abating culpable homicide and other related offences.

Journalists were, however, stopped by the Police from entering the court for the proceedings.

El- Zakzaky’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), informed newsmen that the judge was “unavoidably absent” to take the case.

He said both the prosecuting and defence counsels have decided and picked July 11 as the next adjourned date.

Falana decried the action of Police stopping journalists and commuters who were interested in the case from witnessing the proceedings.

He said that there was no law in the country which stops people from witnessing the proceedings of a trial of any citizen.

The prosecuting counsel, Dari Bayero, however, asked for more time to enable the prosecution serve the two other persons standing trial with the Shiite’s leader.

Naija News earlier reported a violent clash between El-Zakzaky’s followers and the Police in Kaduna on Wednesday.