Nigeria mum as court’s ultimatum on Shia cleric lapses

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) – Leader of a Nigerian Shia organization, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, remains in government custody despite a court ruling declaring his continued detention as unlawful.

So far, no government agency has commented over the issue as rights bodies call for respecting the ruling given on Dec. 2 by a high court in the capital Abuja.

The court had ordered the secret police to release El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah within 45 days, and pay them $164,000 as compensation apiece.

Asked if the secret police had released El-Zakzaky to police authorities, police spokesman Don Awunoh told Anadolu Agency Monday: “We are not aware of any court ruling and if there was any...we have not been served any court order. In any case, I can tell you that the State Security Service [secret police] have not handed him to us as I speak to you."

El-Zakzaky and his wife have been detained since December 2015 following the army’s crackdown on the Shia organization and their followers. According to the army, the military acted within its rules of engagement after group members allegedly attacked a convoy of Gen. Tukur Buratai - a claim the Shia organization members said was false. At least 345 group members were killed in the crackdown.

Amnesty International called on Abuja to respect the court ruling.

“The 45 days deadline given for their release expires today. If government deliberately disregards the ruling of its own courts, it will demonstrate a flagrant and dangerous contempt for the rule of law,” country director of the body, Makmid Kamara, said in a statement.

In his message on New Year, President Muhammadu Buhari had called on the Shia Muslims to respect the country's laws and not isolate themselves. Buhari had also directed security agencies to treat Shia Muslims fairly.