It’s authoritative, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky is airborne on his way to India for a court-ordered medical treatment following illness worsened by long detention by the government. He is accompanied by his wife, Zeenat and they will be treated at the Medenta Hospital, New Delhi.
We reported earlier that a source within the IMN in Kaduna revealed that the IMN leader was in Abuja earlier on Monday, waiting to be flown to India along with DSS personnel by a privately chartered aircraft.
It will be recalled that a Kaduna State High court granted El-Zakzaky and his wife bail or medical leave to undergo treatment at an Indian hospital of their choice. The court ordered that they be released to go to the hospital and return for the continuation of their trial after their discharge from the hospital.
Some of the conditions included that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should confirm the appointments of the defendants/applicants with the Medanta Hospital, India, and undertake all necessary diplomatic arrangements and protocols to ensure compliance with the conditions of the medical leave.
Others are that: “Each of the defendants/applicants shall undertake to return to Nigeria to continue their trial as soon as they are discharged from the hospital, and shall also be responsible for the cost of their travel, treatment and living expenses while on their medical leave. “Each of the defendants/applicants shall produce two prominent and reliable persons as sureties, one being a first class chief/emir of national repute and the other a prominent person within Kaduna State who shall undertake to produce the defendants whenever they are needed. The sureties must also produce evidence of landed property within Kaduna State.” It is however, not clear if the IMN leader met the state government’s conditions before his departure, according to Daily Trust reporting.
