Barely 48 hours after release, Kaduna Government files fresh charges against El-Zakzaky, wife

The Kaduna state government has filed fresh charges against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat.

The fresh charges came two days after the couple were discharged and acquitted by the Kaduna High Court, after pleading not guilty.

The spokesperson for Mr El-Zakzaky, Shuaibu Musa, confirmed to journalists on Friday morning.

The charges are brought under the Treason and Treasonable Offences Act before a Federal High Court.

El-Zakzaky and his wife first appeared before the court by the Kaduna government after a clash in Zaria between IMN supporters and soldiers in 2015, where the soldiers killed about 300 protesting Shiites.

El-Zakzaky and his wife have been facing trial since 2015 on an eight-count charge bordering on culpable homicide, disruption of the public peace, unlawful assembly, among other charges.

On Wednesday, the government arraigned the couple amid tight security by prison operatives.

The lawyer representing Kaduna in the matter, Dari Bayero, had on March 31 asked the court to sentence the couple based on extant laws.

In a ruling that lasted over eight hours, the presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada upheld the no-case submission filed by Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife.

In an alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace levelled against them by the Kaduna state government.

The judge in his ruling held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.