A Senior Advocated of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has landed hard on Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, over claims on Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
He asked if Shehu has become “so power drunk to the extent that he can conveniently set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court” on the El-Zakzaky case.
Shehu had in response to a question on Tuesday in Abuja by newsmen said that the Federal Government is still holding former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and the Shi’ite leader for the good of the country.
While he said Dasuki was yet to be released against court judgement because of his ‘many sins’, on the part of El-Zakzaky, who the court has also ordered to be freed, he said, “The information we have is that he is being kept more for his own safety than the offences he committed. If you set him free today, what do you think will likely be the reactions out there on the streets of Kaduna or in Zazzau where he comes from.”
But in a fierce reaction, Falana wondered if Shehu had become so intoxicated with power to make such claims.
He said, “Even under the neo-tarzanist Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, court orders which directed that victims of the obnoxious Detention of Persons Decree No 2 of 1984 be released from illegal custody were complied with.
“But under a democratic government Mr. Shehu wants Nigerians to believe that El-zakzakys are held in ‘protective custody’ after the federal high court had declared such detention illegal and unconstitutional.”
“Or has Mr. Shehu suddenly become so power drunk to the extent that he can conveniently set aside the judgment of the federal high court?
“Is Mr. Shehu not aware that El-Zakzaky has lost one of his eyes in the dungeon of the State Security Service and may lose the other eye due to denial of urgent medical treatment? Why has his request to travel abroad for medical attention at his own expense been refused by the federal government?”
“Since neither President Muhammadu Buhari nor Acting President Yemi Osinbajo could have authorized the contemptuous statement issued on behalf of the Presidency, Mr. Shehu Garba should be called to order and restrained from further exposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ridicule before the comity of civilized nations.”
Both El-Zakzaky and Dasuki have been granted bail by different courts, but the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has refused to honour such court orders but continues to keep them in prison.
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