By our reporter| A no-case submission filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazaky and his wife Zeenat, was on Monday dismissed by Kaduna State High court.
El-Zazaky and his wife are standing trial on eight counts of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace, among other allegations,
had asked the court to quash the Kaduna State government’s case against them for lack of evidence.
At the last sitting of the court, counsel to the defendants, Abubakar Marshall, holding the briefs for the lead counsel, Femi Falana, had asked the court to quash the charges preferred against the IMN leader 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, also adopted his final arguments in the matter.
The presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kudafa, thereafter, dismissed the no-case submission, saying that it is premature to rule on the application to quash the charges against the defendants in view of the clear provisions of the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice.
The judge also noted that such application should be ruled on after the defendants might have taken their plea and after hearing on the whole matter has been concluded.
El-Zakzaky and his wife, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before them.
The case was adjourned to November 18 and 19, 2020 for continuation of trial and to enable the prosecution counsel to present his evidence before the court.
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