The embattled leader of the outlawed Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife have been discharged by a Kaduna State High Court.
In an alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace levelled against them in court by the Kaduna state government, Justice Gideon Kurada upheld the no-case submission filed by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife.
The presiding judge in his ruling, which lasted over eight hours, held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.
El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat Ibrahim have been standing trial for four years on an eight-count charge of alleged culpable homicide, disruption of public peace and unlawful Assembly among others levelled against them by the Kaduna state government.
The defendants were brought to court on Wednesday morning by officials of the Nigerian Correctional service amidst tight security.
Their lead counsel and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana SAN, had on July 1, argued that all the 15 witnesses presented by the prosecution counsel were unable to establish any connection between the alleged crimes and Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife.
Falana then prayed the court to rule in favour of his clients and dismiss the charges levelled against them as there was no criminal case that has been established against them so far by the Kaduna State Government.
Details shortly….