The Federal Government of Nigeria has released a press statement through the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe on Wednesday August 14, revealing that the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky has been trying to go against the conditions of his bail upon arriving India for treatment.
The statement countered claims of the IMN leader being treated like a criminal under heavy security surveillance in India. The statement also revealed what led to the standoff by El-Zakzaky in India.
The IMN leader was accused of requesting to be allowed to check into 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital, and also demanding that the Police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.
Read the statement in full below;
THE TRUE STORY ON EL-ZAKZAKY IN INDIA
The Court on 5th August 2019 granted Sheikh Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment. Consequently, the Government and its relevant agencies took steps to comply with the Order.
In line with the Court Order, El-Zakzaky was approved to embark on the trip with State officials and his choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal Doctors was not opposed by the government.
Also Read: Strange Doctors Giving Us Treatment — El-ZakZaky Cries Out From Indian Hospital
“In addition, he demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital.
“The request was refused on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his Visa was issued on medical grounds and not for tourism). He also demanded that Police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.
“Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate Doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife.
“This created a stalemate, which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment.
“Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect. This is on the account that they will not allow him use their country to internationalize his group’s activities.
“Against this background, the Nigerian government wishes to commend the stand of the Indian Government as well as apologize to her for the unruly behaviour of El-Zakzaky. Similarly, the attention of the public and indeed the international community is hereby drawn to these unfortunate developments.
“The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through due process if and when he is returned to the country. On this note, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be disregarded.”
