By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Mr Dari Bayero, lead counsel in the secret trial of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat, on Wednesday prayed the Kaduna High court to over-rule the defense and sentence defendants as provided by the law.

Bayero told reporters shortly after Justice Gideon Kurada adjourned the case to May 25 for the defendants to open their defense in the trial.

Bayero said the state had closed its case after presenting its 15th witness in the trial.

“Our last witness has testified and the state has closed its case.

“We are satisfied with the way the case so far. we have presented 15 witnesses including Army Generals who are key actors and players that led to the filing of the case against the IMN leader.

“As far as the state is concerned, it has tendered all the exhibits and witnesses have come before the court and tendered evidence against the defendants.

“One of our prayers is that the court should over rule the No-Case-Submission, over-rule the defence and convinct the defendants accordingly and pass the necessary sentence as provided for in the law,” Bayero said.

The High Court, on March 8, adjourned the secret trial of the IMN leader and his wife, Zeenat, until March 31.

Also, Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told reporters that his team would open defense in case at the adjourned date.

Falana, represented by Marshall Abubakar, said the defense team will open defence in the case on the adjourned date.

He said the defence, with the consultation with the defendants would also file enter a no-case-submission before the court.

According to him, the defense had earlier before the beginning of trial, prayed the court to quash the charge.

He said the defence would also consult with the defendants to now enter a no-case-submission before the Court.

Falana said that so far and as far as the defense is concerned, the 15 prosecution witnesses did not establish any case against his clients.

The secret trial of the IMN leader and his wife Zeenat began on Nov. 18, 2020 at the High Court.

The Kaduna State Government charged El-Zakzaky and Zeenat with eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.

On Sept. 29, the IMN leader and his wife pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.