TWO weeks after been discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State High Court, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria popularly known as Shiites, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakazaky, and his wife, Zeenah, have yet to travel abroad for medical treatment as their international passports were still being held by security agencies, The PUNCH learnt on Thursday.
During a press conference in Abuja, a socio-cultural organisation, the Concerned Abuja Residents, said releasing their passports for their medical trip overseas would “sustain the calm and peace which have since their release returned to Abuja”.
The text of the press conference read by the Chairman of CAR, Danjuma Ayide, was titled, ‘Sheikh Zakzaky’s release commendable and an Abuja’s breath of fresh air’.
According to him, reports have indicated that their health conditions have deteriorated and as such needed to travel overseas for treatment.
Ayide said, “On behalf of the Concerned Abuja Residents, I wish to express our happiness over the Kaduna State High Court judgement delivered on July 28, 2021.
“However, our felicity has been given short shrift by the reliable piece of information to which we are privy, that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife were flown to Abuja after their release in the hope of jetting off for the treatment of their deteriorating health conditions, especially in an ultra-modern medical facility; and that the only obstacle to the wish of travelling overseas for medication is the inability receive their international passports and other necessary documents.
“We call on the Federal Government to help facilitate this as we seriously fear the return of protests to Abuja.
“We urge the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s auspices to release the passports of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife to enable them to travel to the hospital of their choice.”
