The Federal Government, on Friday, said that leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, tried to seek asylum in India.
Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe, said this in a statement.
“With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country.
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“He also contacted some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country,” the official said.
El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, returned to Nigeria from India, on Friday after their planned treatment in the Asian country fell through.
The IMN, however, had earlier released a statement accusing the Nigerian government of frustrating his medical treatment in India.
The IMN also condemned the way El-Zakzaky was rearrested by security operatives at the Abuja after his arrival.
The Islamic cleric and his wife had been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since December 2015 after soldiers killed at least 347 of IMN members for blocking a public road.
The statement of the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, read
“The Federal Government wishes to inform the public about the latest development in the Ibraheem El-Zakzaky medical trip controversies to India. The Government notes with dismay the acts of misconduct exhibited by El-Zakzaky that necessitated his repatriation.
“The earlier statement of 14th August 2019 by the Government addressed the issues that would have raised some questions with the latest occurrences and particularly the uncelebrated return of El-Zakzaky from India. The public may note that
“El-Zakzaky’s actions in India demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of embarrassing the Governments of Nigeria and India.
“With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country.
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“He also contacted some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country.
“It is important to note that if an Indian court had granted El-zakzaky asylum or leave to travel to another country, it would have violated the Nigerian court order that granted him permission to travel for medical treatment.
“However, he used the opportunity of being in India to attempt to internationalise his cause by mobilising the Rights groups.
“Even most unfortunate and rather embarrassing as earlier stated, was his quest to be relocated to a 5-Star hotel to receive visitors instead of being admitted in the hospital as a sick person he claimed to be.
“In spite of his misconduct, El-Zakzaky’s spouse went further to antagonize the Indian and Nigerian security agents and accused the latter of killing her children.
“These acts were aimed at winning international sympathy as well as disparaging the Nigerian Government.
“Having subordinated the quest for medical treatment to other ulterior motives, it became obvious that El-Zakzaky was focused on realising some sinister motives thus the decision to return him to Nigeria.”