Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, taken the Federal Government to a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking for N3 billion as compensation for his alleged unlawful detention.
Counsel to Zakzaky, Festus Okoye, disclosed in a press conference on Wednesday in Kaduna that apart from the money, his client went to court to seek for his unconditional release from detention. He revealed the suit was filed on April 12 at the court.
Okoye noted that he, Femi Falana (SAN) and Maxwell Kyon would serve as El-Zakzaky’s legal team in the suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/247/16/, and that joined in the suit instituted against the FG were the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Director-General, DSS, Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
He said his client wants the court to enforce his right to life, personal liberty, freedom of movement, dignity of the human person and right to private and family life.
“Our Client is also seeking an order of the court to compel the respondents jointly and severally to pay to him the sum of N3 billion as general damages for the illegal violation of his fundamental rights to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing, privacy and private property.
“The applicant is seeking a declaration that the violent invasion of his private residence at No 1 Wali road, Gyallessu, Zaria in Kaduna State on December 14, 2015 is a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights to privacy and private property as guaranteed by the Constitution.
“A declaration that shooting of the applicant by armed soldiers who are members of the 1st respondent on Sunday, December 14, 2015 at his residence is illegal and unconstitutional.
“A declaration that the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted to the applicant by armed soldiers who are members of the 1st respondent is a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to dignity of human person as guaranteed by the Constitution,” Okoye told newsmen.
Okoye further disclosed that he wants the court to declare the alleged killing of his client’s three children namely: Hameed Ibrahim (18), Ali Haidar Ibraheem (16), and Humaid Ibraheem (14) as illegal and unconstitutional, adding that Zakzaky wants the court to declare his arrest and continued detention as a violation of the Constitution.
He said they had requested the court to restrain the respondents from further arresting, detaining or harassing the applicant in any manner without lawful justification.
