NASS Invasion: Reps Asks FG To Release Zakzaky

Barely a day after members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN attacked the National Assembly in protest over the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky, the House of Representatives has asked the federal government to obey the court orders directing the release of the Islamic Leader.

Members of the group invaded the chambers of the national assembly yesterday and clashed with security agents.

The lawmakers during Wednesday’s plenary disclosed that IMN members would continue to cause chaos since they’re protesting their leader’s continued incarceration.

Recall that Zakzaky was arrested in 2015 after the group also known as Shi’ites clashed with a convoy of the then Chief of Army staff in Kaduna State.

Recall also that different courts have granted him bail but the government is still detaining him.

Minority leader of the Green Chambers, Ndudi Elumelu during in a motion, called on his colleagues to probe the matter and ensure adequate security measures are in place at the legislative chamber.

According to reports, while some of his colleagues agreed with the need for improved security, other emphasized that they should instead address “the root cause” of the protests which they identified as the continued detention of El-Zakzaky.

They argued that the circumstances surrounding the matter are similar to what led to the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgent group.

Onofiok Luke from Akwa Ibom said it is unfortunate that while the lawmakers are empowered to make laws, the federal government is going against the rule of law in disobedience to the court orders ordering the release of the IMN leader.

“If the court has given an order for the release of the man, we should cal on the government to release him. The discourse should not be on the invasion of the national assembly alone,” he said.

A representative from Osun state, Bamidele Salam said El-Zakzaky’s continued detention is injustice and “injustice to one is injustice to all.”

“I want to urge the federal government to look into the matter of the leader of this movement and allow the rule of law to take its course … to ensure that Boko Haram is not replicated in Shiites movement,” he said.

“If we are able to secure the national assembly, what happens to the man and woman in the market elsewhere?”

Simon Davou from Plateau state said rather than detain el-Zakzaky against court orders, the government should release him “and ensure surveillance, with enough security operatives to monitor his activities.”

Recall further that immediate past minister of information, Lai Mohammed, had in defence of the Islamic leader’s continued detention said last year during a Channels TV programme that no one wants to accept him as a neighbour.

“The court ruled that he will be released after his house has been rebuilt. Nobody wants to accept El-Zakzaky as a neighbor. So we have been able to build a house, where do we release him to?” he had said.