IMN gave the call while reacting to a video online, of the
Vice President defending the continuous incarceration of its leader who has
been in detention since December 2015.
Describing El-Zakzaky’s continued detention as the “worst
case of human rights violation”, the group maintained that the action of the
current government was the “height of impunity that had ever been committed by
a democratic government”.
In a statement by its President of Media Forum, Ibrahim
Musa, sent to DAILY POST, the group stressed that the incarceration of its
leader was indefensible.
The statement reads, “On Thursday, 20/4/2017, in a video
clip posted on the official tweeter handle of the presidency, the Vice
President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was seen speaking to the Guardian newspaper
defending the federal government’s refusal to comply with a Federal High
Court’s judgement that ordered the release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his
wife from illegal detention.
“In the said video clip, the VP attributed the failure to
comply with that landmark judgement to a purported appeal against the judgement
by the federal government.
“It is both curious and ridiculous that the VP, not only
because of his professional calling, but also as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(SAN) would justify contempt of court on mere appeal of a judgement without a
contrary ruling or stay of execution order by a superior court.
“Certainly, the Vice President knows quite well that an
appeal against a lower court judgement does not justify its disobedience
without suspension by a superior court. It is therefore a gross abuse of the
legal process to continue to detain Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife for
over four months after that judgement without a contrary order by a competent
court.
By Seun Opejobi
