The Federal Government on Thursday ruled out the possibility of releasing the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, despite the court order asking it to do so.

A top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that the cleric’s continued detention was in “security and public interest.”

He said since the constitutional objective of government, as stated in Section 14 (2) (b) of the nation’s constitution, was public and not individual security, there was the need for the cleric to remain in detention.

He said, “The issue of the release of El-Zakzaky is not exclusively legal. It has security and public-interest as against individual-interest undertones.

“Public interest and national security implications must be factored into consideration in line with international practices that conventionally place national security and public interest above any other individual claim of right.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is looking into the case with the public and security interest dimensions into consideration.”

He, however, did not disclose the nature of the said “security and public interest.”

The government official also confirmed that the cleric’s wife, Zeenat, sustained bullet wounds during the encounter her husband had with security men over a year ago.

He, however, said the woman was not in detention, but only keeping her husband company.

“El-Zazaky’s wife is not under detention. If it is her wish, that of her husband or of the IMN, she will be allowed to go home in a matter of hours.

“She was picked up by officials of the Department of State Services beside her husband with bullet wounds following the IMN’s encounter with the army.

“They took her along with the husband, treated her wounds and allowed her to care for her husband.

“Upon his request on an occasion, the children joined them during Ramadan. That is what happened,” the government official explained.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on December 2, 2016 ordered the Federal Government to release El-Zakzaky and his wife from custody into an accommodation that must be provided within 45 days.

http://punchng.com/wont-release-el-zakzaky-despite-court-order-fg-2/

Jengem:
Buhari na bastard

Home and abroad

Born fool

Super1Star:
FG please ring it into the deaf ears of the ignoramus Sons of Hatred what we have been telling them about international best practise --- national security supersedes any court order, rule of law and any fundamental human right anywhere in the world.

Ipods and wailers, what do you have to say?

innovatn4change:
LoL. Government is really funny. I ve always wondered. Where does the true power lie? I mean who wields the power. And the annoyingly unfunny thing is WE are the government, civil servant or not, indifferent or not. Every single one of us is the Government. Chai God. Humans Africans are just so complex

jiinxed:
All of you cheering buhari on, encouraging him to wade deeper into the murky waters of tyranny, cheering on -while free-speech is being buried, while the opposition is being silenced, while the rule of law is being ridiculed, while things keep getting worse for the common man on the street;

Cheering on while nigeria is gradually sliding into dictatorship, just remember, "Karma has no menu, you get served what you deserve" when the light of buhari's injustice shines on you, your case would be worse than drabeyy, the mere company driver whose jalopy was impounded.