Ebun Francis
The Federal Government on Thursday said that the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, will not be released any time soon despite the court order granting his release from detention.
According a top official of the government who did not want his name in print, El-Zakzaky’s continued detention is in the interest of “security and public interest.”
Quoting Section 14 (2) (b) of the nation’s constitution, he said it was public and not individual security that is at the core of the issue, therefore, there is the need for the cleric to remain in detention.
According to him, “The issue of the release of El-Zakzaky is not exclusively legal. It has security and public interest as against individual interest undertones.
“Public interest and national security implications must be factored into consideration in line with international practices that conventionally place national security and public interest above any other individual claim of right.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is looking into the case with the public and security interest dimensions into consideration.”
