Kaduna State Government has presented before the State High Court seven measures that would ensure that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and wife Zeenat, do not become asylum seekers in India.
Justice Darius Khobo had on Monday granted the defendants leave to seek medical treatment at the Medanta Hospital, India, with the Department of State Services (DDS) stating its readiness to comply with the court’s directives.
The state government wants the court to make El-Zakzaky and wife and each of the other defendants produce two prominent sureties including a first-class chief or emir.
The terms were stated in a statement on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
It said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria shall confirm the appointments of the defendants/applicants with the Medanta Hospital, India, and undertake all necessary diplomatic arrangements and protocol to ensure compliance with the conditions of the medical leave.
“Each of the defendants/applicants shall undertake to return to Nigeria to continue their trial as soon as they are discharged from the hospital, and shall also be responsible for the cost of their travel, treatment and living expenses while on their medical leave.
“Each of the defendants/applicants shall produce two prominent and reliable persons as sureties, one being a first class chief/emir of national repute and the other a prominent person within Kaduna state who shall undertake to produce the defendants whenever they are needed. The sureties must also produce evidence of landed property within Kaduna state.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria shall obtain from the Government of India an irrevocable guarantee that it will not entertain any application by the defendants/applicants or any third party seeking asylum under any guise or conferring the status of political prisoners or any other status aside from being medical patients on the defendants /applicants and shall also restrain the defendants/applicants from any act inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
“Each of the defendants/applicants shall undertake in writing, endorsed by their Counsel, that while on medical treatment in India, they shall do nothing to jeopardize the ongoing trial, the peace and security of Nigeria and the laws of the Republic of India in whatever form.
“Security agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria shall escort the defendants/applicants and remain with them throughout the duration of their treatment in India and thereafter shall return with them after their discharge from the hospital. The Nigerian High Commission in India shall undertake prior vetting and grant consent before any visitor has access to the defendants/applicants while in the Republic of India.”
