Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife to travel abroad for medical check-up following their acquittal

ISLAMIC Movement of Nigeria (IMN) leader Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeena are planning to embark on a foreign medical trip following their recent acquittal and release by a Kaduna high court after six year in detention.

Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in detention since 2015 when members of his Shiite movement clashed with the Nigerian Army in Zaria in Kaduna State. He and his wife were subsequently slapped with culpable homicide, terrorism and treasonable felony charges against the state and the federal governments but earlier this week, a court acquitted them.

Following their acquittal on Wednesday, the couple now plan to travel abroad for a medical check up after their long stay in prison. Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife have been staying in Abuja since they were acquitted by a Kaduna high court but it is believed that the Kaduna State government is planning to file fresh terrorism and treasonable felony charges against them.

IMN spokesman Abdullahi Mohammed, said: “Sheikh and his wife are still around, they have not travelled. I will update you if there is any development.

“He will travel soon. He and his wife need to see their doctors as they have to be attended to soon.”

Justice Gideon Kurada of Kaduna High Court, discharged Sheikh El-Zakzaky and Zeenah in Wednesday, dismissing the eight charges pressed against them by the state government for lack of merit. Apparently not satisfied with the judgment, the state government filed seven fresh charges against them on Thursday at the Federal High Court.