Ololade Adeyanju/
The Federal Government has given reasons for the continuous detention of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, following violent clashes between members of the movement and the police yesterday in Abuja.
The clash reportedly claimed several lives, including that of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations at the FCT command, Mr Usman Umar.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, defended the Federal Government’s decision not to release El-Zakzaky during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, today.
According to him, government refused to obey Justice Gabriel Kolawole’s order on the release of the Shi’ite leader, because it had immediately filed an appeal to the ruling.
His words: “I know that the immediate past AGF in whose purview it was to make pronouncements on that, address the issue. If bail is granted and another case subsists and there is an immediate filing of appeal, you have to wait till it is dispensed with.
“So, that is a legal matter which is outside my purview but as a layman, an unlearned man as lawyers would call us, we know that until all cases are dispensed with, you don’t say that it has been concluded.”
He added that the matter had since been taken before a court in Kaduna State and the bail hearing would come up next Monday.
Also responding to allegations that the police ought not to have fired live bullets into the protesters yesterday, the Adesina argued that the police deserve to be commended, adding that the death toll would have been much higher if the police did not show some restraint.
He stated: “I tell you despite what happened yesterday, if the police had responded with greater force, you know we would not be talking about what we are talking now.
“A deputy commissioner of police was killed. Yes, very sad, that is one life just like any other life. He did not deserve to die in service to the country but if the police had responded in similar fashion, you would have been talking of rivers of blood in Abuja now.
“I still believe there was some restraint yesterday despite what happened and personally I still commend the police for showing that restraint.”
Meanwhile, Iranians launched a protest in London yesterday against the continued detention of Sheikh El-Zakzaky.
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