A Kaduna State High Court sitting in the state capital has fixed September 29, 2020, to rule on the motion of no-case-submission filed by the embattled leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria(IMN) Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazaky.

The IMN leader is seeking the court to quash the State government’s case against him for lack of evidence.

Justice Gideon Kurada fixed the date on Friday, after counsel to the defendant, Abubakar Marshall, who is holding the briefs for the lead Counsel, Femi Falana, had asked the court to quash the charges preferred against El-Zakzaky by the government for not “disclosing an offence known to law contrary to Section 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended”.

The Prosecution Counsel, Dari Bayero adopted his final arguments in the matter.

The IMN leader and his wife Zinat are standing trial on allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace, among other charges.

Counsel to the IMN leader, who spoke to journalists shortly after the adjournment, said he prayed the court to dismiss the case for lack of evidence, devoid of any merit, and can not stand before any court of law.

He further explained that the third and fourth defendants in the case who were also charged with committing the same offence, have been discharged and acquitted by another Kaduna State High Court.

The IMN has been holding several protests for the release of their leader and to critise the killing of their members.

Recently the movement gathered in Kaduna to mark the sixth anniversary of their members who were killed by the Nigerian Army on July 25, 2014.

Although security agencies dispersed the protesters while they were trying to assemble.
IMN Spokesperson, Ibrahim Musa, told Channels Television that the commemoration was a peaceful annual event usually observed with members gathering to offer prayers for the repose of the souls of their departed members.

He explained that shortly after they commenced the programme at a cemetery in Zaria, armed policemen stormed the venue and started shooting tear gas into their air.

Mr Musa asked the police to save their bullets for armed bandits and terrorists who are killing innocent and defenseless civilians.

In their response, the State Police Command said the group remains outlawed and security operatives reserve the right to disperse them.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, officially declared the IMN banned in July 2029.

The group was founded by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who is being tried by the Kaduna state government over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of the public peace, and criminal conspiracy among others.