Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal government has expressed regret over the manner the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, conducted themselves in India.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Isu-Gekpe to clarify the repatriation of El-Zakzaky, the government said El-Zakzaky showed total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India as he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country.
Isu-Gekpe also said the Shiites leader also contacted some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups with the aim of seeking asylum and eventually relocating to another country.
“The Federal government wishes to inform the public about the latest development in the Ibraheem El-zakzaky medical trip controversies to India. The government notes with dismay, the acts of misconduct exhibited by El-zakzaky that necessitated his repatriation.
“The earlier statement of 14th August, 2019, by the government addressed the issues that would have raised some questions with the latest occurrences and particularly, the uncelebrated return of El-Zakzaky from India. The public may note that El-Zakzaky’s actions in India demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of embarrassing the Government of Nigeria and India.
“With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country. He also contacted some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country.
“It is important to note that if an Indian court had granted El-Zakzaky asylum or leave to travel to another country, it would have violated the Nigerian court order that granted him permission to travel for medical treatment. However, he used the opportunity of being in India to attempt to internationalise his cause by mobilising the rights groups. Even most unfortunate and rather embarrassing as earlier stated, was his quest to be relocated to a 5-Star hotel to receive visitors instead of being admitted in the hospital as a sick person he claimed to be,” the government said.
The government added that in spite of El-Zakzaky’s misconduct, his spouse went further to antagonise the Indian and Nigerian security agents and accused the latter of killing her children.
The acts, the government also said, were aimed at winning international sympathy, as well as disparaging the Nigerian government.
“Having subordinated the quest for medical treatment to other ulterior motives, it became obvious that El-Zakzaky was focused on realising some sinister motives thus the decision to return him to Nigeria,” the government also said.