Investing.com - Financial Markets Worldwide

UPDATE 1-Nigerian court adjourns bail hearing for leader of banned Shi'ite group

Published 29/07/2019, 14:02
UPDATE 1-Nigerian court adjourns bail hearing for leader of banned Shi'ite group

(Adds details, quotes, background)
By Garba Muhammad
KADUNA, Nigeria July 29 (Reuters) - A Nigerian court on
Monday adjourned a bail hearing for the leader of a banned
Shi'ite Muslim group, which says at least 20 of its followers
died in clashes with police last week while holding protests to
demand his release.
Supporters of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) leader
Ibrahim Zakzaky say he should be released on bail to receive
medical treatment in Egypt. The court in the northern city of
Kaduna adjourned the bail hearing until Aug. 5.
Zakzaky was arrested after a 2015 clash in which the army
killed an estimated 350 of his followers at his compound and a
nearby mosque and burial ground in northern Kaduna state. He has
remained in detention despite a court order in Dec. 2016 to
release him.
Zakzaky's lawyer, Femi Falana, said eight medical reports
attached to the bail application showed Zakazy requires urgent
medical attention in Egypt.
"Doctors have confirmed that he has lost an eye and the
second one may be lost on account of advanced glaucoma.
Secondly, pellets in his body have not been removed," said
Falana. He said the pellets - shrapnel from the 2015 clash - was
causing lead poisoning, having been in his body for four years.
Prosecution lawyer Dari Bayero said the authorities oppose
the bail application and believe Nigeria's medical facilities
can treat any of the religious leader's ailments.
IMN was banned over the weekend for inciting violence after
clashes with police at protests demanding his release. The group
said on Friday at least 20 people had died in clashes last week.
Police did not give a death toll. The IMN is the largest Shi'ite group in Nigeria, where
around half the population is Muslim, overwhelmingly Sunni.

Latest comments

Install Our App
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.