Federal Government has accused Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky of plans to seek asylum in India or elsewhere while he was away in Delhi for medical attention. He was said to have plotted to initiate asylum proceedings in court. The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) made contacts with Indian lawyers to begin what the government thinks is “seeking asylum” in India or any other country.
In Abuja, reports say his group are making plans to commence more protests to pressurise government to release him from detention. The Muslim leader and his spouse have been taken into custody.
Meanwhile back in Delhi, he was also said to have contacted a team of doctors other than those provided for him, who he refused their treatment. His wife Zeenat also turned down their service.
The government said in a statement by permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe that, the new reality accords with their earlier statement about the possible repatriation of the IMN leader.
Her statement reads “te earlier statement of 14th August 2019 by the Government addressed the issues that would have raised some questions with the latest occurrences and particularly the uncelebrated return of El-zakzaky from India.
“The public may note that El-Zakzaky’s actions in India demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of embarrassing the Governments of Nigeria and India.
“With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country. He also contacted some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country.
“It is important to note that if an Indian court had granted El-zakzaky asylum or leave to travel to another country, it would have violated the Nigerian court order that granted him permission to travel for medical treatment,” she disclosed.
FG went further to allege that El-Zakzaky “he used the opportunity of being in India to attempt to internationalise his cause by mobilising the Rights groups. Even most unfortunate and rather embarrassing as earlier stated, was his quest to be relocated to a 5-Star hotel to receive visitors instead of being admitted in the hospital as a sick person he claimed to be.”
Even the wife Zeenat, the government alleged joined in the improper conduct. She was accused of antagonizing Indian and Nigerian security operatives attached she accused the Nigerian agent’s offer killing her children.
“These acts were aimed at winning international sympathy as well as disparaging the Nigerian Government. Having subordinated the quest for medical treatment to other ulterior motives, it became obvious that El-zakzaky was focused on realising some sinister motives thus the decision to return him to Nigeria,” she concluded.
