Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has turned down a request by the detained Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, seeking his immediate release from detention by the Department of State Service (DSS).
El-Zakzaky, who is the leader of the Shi’te movement in the country has been in detention since December last year with his wife, after a violent clash between members of his sect and the Nigerian Army.
Hundreds of people were reportedly killed in the clash.
The pair had filed a suit against the federal government challenging their continued detention by the Nigerian Army.
Justice Okon Abang in his ruling yesterday, said El-Zakzaky ought to have obtained the leave of court for the matter to be heard during vacation since it was initially assigned to Justice Gabriel Kolawole by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
He explained that the applicant failed to serve the DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation joined as respondents.
Abang, therefore, said that the application was not competent and struck out the application.
The Shi’ite leader is being charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbances among others.
The Shi’ite members had clashed with the Army late last year during which hundreds of people were reportedly killed.
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