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Court Adjourns Hearing On El-Zakzaky’s Suit Against Nigerian Army, Others

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State has adjourned the hearing of the case filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria … Continue reading Court Adjourns Hearing On El-Zakzaky’s Suit Against Nigerian Army, Others


Court To Rule On El-Zakzaky's Bail Application August 5
A file photo of Mr Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Zaria Residents Protest Against El-Zakzaky's ReleaseA Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State has adjourned the hearing of the case filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (Shiites) against the Nigerian Army and three others.

In the suit, the Shiites through their lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, are demanding N2 billion as compensation for the invasion and destruction of El-Zakzaky’s houses, the killing of his three sons and other members of the Islamic movement by the Nigerian Army, which they say amount to the violation of his fundamental human rights.

But at the resumed sitting on the matter on Thursday, hearing on the suit could not go on.

This is because lawyers to the first, second, third and fourth defendants in the suit had filed an objection, describing the suit as an abuse of court process since the applicants had earlier filed a similar suit at court of same jurisdiction in Abuja.

The applicants, however, filed a counter affidavit, insisting that both suits are different and should be treated differently on their own merit.

The lawyers for the defendants then sought an adjournment to enable them to study the issues raised before the next sitting.

The adjournment, according to the presiding judge, Justice Salisu Shuaibu, is as a result of the inability of the defence counsel to identify and argue on the objection that was earlier filed by counsel to the Army and Chief of Army Staff on the alleged abuse of court process by the applicants.

In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu informed both parties that all their objections will be heard on the next adjourned date, 30th June, 2017.

Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the IMN and the Attorney General of Kaduna State said the adjournment will afford all the parties involved in the case the time to adequately prepare themselves for the hearing.