Information reaching us at Checkout Magazine has it that the Department of State Services has spent spent no less than N164.5 million within a four-year span to feed the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky while in its custody.
El-Zakzaky was detained after soldiers killed over 345 members of his sect and two of his children, following the accusation that members of his sect attempted to kill the Chief of army staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai. [ihrc]
According to Punch, since El-Zakzaky has been in DSS custody, the accrued cost of feeding the Shiite leader amounts to N164.5 million.
However reacting to the reports, human rights lawyer and Zakzaky’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), lamented that the cost may continue to rise since he is in prison and is therefore still being taken care of with taxpayers’ money.
He added that El-Zakzaky was granted bail many times, but the court orders were ignored by the federal government until the Kaduna State government decided to charge the IMN leader to court.
“El-Zakzaky is now in prison but he is still being taken care of by the federal government with tax payers’ money,” Falana was quoted as saying.
It would be recalled that the El Zakzaky was arrested after soldiers clamped down on his supporters, killing at least 347 of them. The army accused them of blocking a public road being used by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Following his detention in DSS facility since December 12, 2015, El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat are facing an eight-count charge of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace at the Kaduna High Court.
