Kaduna court resumes trial of El-Zakzaky, wife

Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

A Kaduna State High Court has resumed the trial of leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat.

The defendants were brought to the court on Monday to take their plea.

El-Zakzaky and his wife are facing eight-count charges brought against them by the Kaduna State Government over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace, among others.

They have been in detention since their arrest in December 2015 following a clash between his members and soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Justice Gideon Kurada had amended the charges against the defendants from four people to two and excluded two other accused persons who are still at large, to enable the trial of the IMN leader and his wife commence without delay.

The judge also ordered that the defendants should be allowed to be seen by their private doctors at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in the Kaduna State capital, with close supervision of the facility management.

He, however, adjourned the case until February 24 and 25 for accelerated hearing.