The trial of Nigeria’s Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife Zeenat was on Monday morning at the Kaduna State High Court adjourned indefinitely.

El-Zakzaky and Zeenat are currently facing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.

They were denied bail by the presiding Judge Justice Gideon Kurada, during the last sitting on January 22, 2019.

“Their (El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat) health condition is bad; they are not in a good health condition to come to court. The court has already ordered that our clients’ private doctor and the government doctor should attend to their health, but that has not been done yet,” Femi Falana (SAN), lawyer to El-Zakzaky, said in an interview at the court premises after appearing from the summary sitting at the Judge’s chamber.

“The trial Judge Justice Gideon Kurada has been appointed to head one of the governorship election petition tribunals in Yobe State. For that reason, the case has been adjourned sine die,” Mr Falana added.

Falana lamented the deprivation of journalists by authority from covering the court proceeding, saying: “As media people, journalists also have a duty to cover these proceedings. We are not engaged in a secret trial, so I think the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) should insist on covering the proceedings.”

The prosecuting lawyer and Director Public Prosecution, Kaduna State, Dari Bayaro, in an interview also outside the court premises said: “Because of the fact that the matter was not likely to go on, the security among us advised that Mallam (El-Zakzaky) should return from wherever he is.

“I believe as per the court order, Mallam is receiving adequate medical attention.

“He (the Judge) said by taking oath, he has excluded himself from other matters because election petition takes precedent over other matters.

“So, he gave us the opportunity to discuss among ourselves. He gave us two options whether to transfer the matter to the Chief Judge of the state or whether we will still hold on for him to come back and continue over the matter.

“We discussed and agreed that my load should continue his sitting over the matter when he concludes at the tribunal. So, we made all necessary application and agreed it should be adjourned sine-die.”

Commuters in Kaduna had to trek long distances on Monday morning as security operatives blocked major roads ahead of the El-Zakzaky case.

Ahmadu Bello Way, Bida Road, Yakubu Gowon Way, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Independence Way and some other major roads leading to the court premises at Gabasawa, along Independence Way were all blocked.

•Photo by Garba Muhammad shows Independent Way, the access road to the court, being blocked by security operatives on Monday morning, with commuters trekking to their various destinations.

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