A Kaduna State High Court has ordered that the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, be moved to the Kaduna Convict Prison.

The court gave the order this afternoon of Thursday, December, 5, 2019, at the resumed sitting after Zakzaky’s counsel, Femi Falana SAN, who, was represented by Barrister Haruna Magashi, alerted the court that he had been prevented access to his client since the latter’s return from India.

He then urged the court to adjourn the matter to a later date so that they could speak with their client on the next steps to take.

Counsel to the Kaduna State Government and Director of Public Prosecution, Dari Bayero, insisted that the case continue since a lawyer in Zakzaky’s legal team, Sadau Garba, saw him on Wednesday.

But Barrister Haruna further objected and asked the court to give him five minutes to contact his principle on what to do next.

According to Haruna, “I called Falana but he did not pick his calls, so I called his aide and I was told that he is in court for the Soware case and cannot pick calls.”

Counsel to the State Government, however, did not object the appeal to move the Sheikh to the Kaduna Prison, saying: “Since his being in a DSS facility is preventing contact with his client, it will be better he is moved so that the case can continue.”

Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court then granted the appeal and asked that Zakzaky be transferred to the Kaduna Prison and adjourned the matter to February 6, 2020 for continuation of the trail.

Zakzaky is to be relocated with his wife, Zeenat. Both have been in detention over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace among other charge since December 2014 when members of his movement blocked the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, in Zaria.

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