Court orders El-Zakzaky’s wife’s relocation to COVID-19 treatment centre

Ibrahim El-Zakzaky-and-wife-Zeenat

A Kaduna State High Court on Monday ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service in the state to release Zeenat wife of leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Ibrahim El-Zakzaky for COVID-19 treatment.

Mohammed son of the IMN leader had last Thursday said his mother, Zeenat, tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kaduna correctional centre, but that the authorities refused to release her for treatment.

El-Zakzaky’s counsel Femi Falana had presented a medical report to back up his case for the release of Zeenat.

The senior lawyer asked the court to allow Zeenat seek medical treatment outside the correctional centre according to measures put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

However, ruling on Monday, Justice Gideon Kurada ruled that Zeenat be moved to a government isolation facility to begin treatment immediately.

Prosecuting counsel Chris Umar did not oppose the request.

El-Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since 2015 after his followers clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna.

They are standing trial for alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace.