The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has faulted the Federal Government’s claims that he was unruly in India in a new video released on Thursday.
In the short video recorded in Hausa, but subtitled in English, El-Zakzaky said, “I have heard that the Nigerian authorities have issued some statements which are laced with lies. It is up to people to agree with me or with the government’s version of the story.
The Federal Government, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, had said that the religious leader was frustrating the authorities of the Indian hospital where he was to be treated.
In a statement entitled “The true story on El-Zakzaky in India”, the government said that the cleric, who particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India for the treatment, had begun to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.
The statement signed by Grace Isu Gekpe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, said that the cleric refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks after State officials resisted his pressure to handover his International Passport to him.
The statement reads: “It would be recalled that the Court on 5th August, 2019 granted the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment. Consequently, the Government and its concerned agencies agreed to obey the Order and immediately planned to achieve the success of the Medical trip.
“The government went further to arrange a private air craft for the said movement and convenience of the parties but El-Zakzaky turned this offer down and instead preferred to travel on a commercial flight for which he chose the Emirates.
“It may further be recalled that in line with the Court Order, El-Zakzaky was supposed to embark on the trip with State officials. His choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal Doctors was not opposed by the government.
“On 12th August, 2019, he and other members of the entourage set off on the journey to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Mendata Hospital, India. However, on reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.
“First, he requested that his passport be handed over to him but the State officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation became worse in India. El-Zakzaky had increased his demands. At this stage, he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks including laboratory tests.
“He demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds. He requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital. But the Indian authorities turned down his 5-Star hotel stay request 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 on tourism). He 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 Mendata Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife. This, of course, created a stalemate for which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to or direct it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment on them.
“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 India and as well 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. Therefore, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be disregarded.
