The Federal Government has accused leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh
Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, of “becoming uncontrollable” in India. The Shi’ites leader is currently in
India for medical treatment, based on a court order.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe, alleged this in a
statement made available to journalists in Abuja. Gekpe was reacting to an audio message in
which El-Zakzaky openly complained about the increased security presence around him in the
Indian hospital. She described his claim as “a foul cry” that should be disregarded.
Gekpe said the Islamic cleric started displaying “ulterior motives against laid down
procedures” when he and his wife had a stopover in Dubai. She said the situation continued in
India where El-Zakzaky initially insisted that he should be checked into a hotel instead of a
hospital and also asked for unfettered access to visitors.
According to Gekpe, the situation got to a stage that the Indian authorities expressed their
readiness to return him to Nigeria. Gekpe further alleged that, “against medical ethics and
standard practice, El-Zakzaky 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, she added, created a stalemate, and the hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it
on the choice of medical personnel to carry out the required medical treatment.
The government however, commended the stand of the country and apologised to India,
affirming its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through due process if and
when he is returned to the country.
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