The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi’ites, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky will leave Nigeria for India alongside wife and a couple of family members and three security operatives, DAILY NIGERIAN has learnt.
Last week, Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court granted Mr El-Zakzaky and wife leave to seek medical attention in New Delhi, India.
The court ordered that they be released to go to the hospital and return for the continuation of their trial after their discharge from the hospital.
Spokesman for the State Security Service, SSS, Peter Afunnaya later released a statement, saying the service would comply with the order.
Against speculations that the Shi’ite leader would travel in “a privately chartered aircraft”, insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that he would travel in first class cabin of Emirates.
The Shii’te leader is currently at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja awaiting to board Emirates Flight EK786 to Dubai enroute to India at 6pm today, sources familiar with the travel arrangements told this newspaper.
Insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that Mr El-Zakzaky appeared strong today as he was escorted into the airport, but his wife came in motorised wheelchair.
The sources said there is probability that National Intelligence Agency, NIA and foreign service officials will also join them at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India.
Mr El-Zakzaky and wife will be escorted by his son Muhammad, family doctor Ramatu Abubakar, a family friend Zainab Hamid, two SSS operatives and a police doctor.
The Kaduna State government last week laid out seven conditions for Mr El-Zakzaky to meet before he is allowed to travel out, but it is not clear whether the Shi’ite leader met the conditions.
Below are the seven conditions
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall confirm the appointments of the defendants/applicants with the Medanta Hospital, India, and undertake all necessary diplomatic arrangements and protocols to ensure compliance with the conditions of the medical leave.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
NOTE: This report was initially rendered with the name of El-Zakzaky’s daughter Nusaiba as part of the team escorting the IMN leader, but was corrected to include Ramatu Abubakar and Zainab Hamid. The error regretted.
