The federal government has apolgised to the government of
India over what it describes as “unruly behaviour” of the leader of the banned
Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky who is undergoing medical
treatment at Medanta Hospital, New Deli, along with his wife, Zeenah.
El-Zakzaky and Zeenah arrived in the Asian country on Tuesday, August 13 and were taken to the hospital for treatment
The Shiite sect leader who spoke from his hospital bed yesterday complained about the heavy security presence around him as well as many staff from the Nigerian high commission.
“We were brought into another detention that we only came based on trust.”
“I have been detained now for a collective total of about 13 years but I have never seen a detention like the one I am in now. Even at the doors they have placed armed police. Even between one room to the next we are not allowed to move (sic).
“After we arrived we realized that in this hospital, or better yet someone working in the Nigerian embassy here told us that before we came, they had carried out a meeting with the hospital staff, the workers from the Nigerian embassy and some security operatives on how to go about things once we are here.
“So we saw that we were practically brought to another detention facility which is even stricter than the one we were in back in Nigeria. They came here with police armed with guns and a lot of staff from the Nigerian embassy,” he said.
However, federal government, in a statement (see full text below) signed by the permanent secretary in the ministry of information and culture, Mrs. Grace Isu Gekpe and issued in Abuja on Wednesday evening, explained that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Medanta Hospital but on getting there, he began to “display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.”
According to the government, El-Zakzaky requested for his international passport, 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 government stated that 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).
“The situation became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks.”
The government therefore called on Nigerians and the international community to disregard El-Zakzaky’s “foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria”
The government commended the “stand of the Indian government as well as apologise to her for the unruly behaviour of El-Zakzaky.”
Here is the full text of the statement:
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.
On 12th August, 2019, he and other members of the entourage went to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India. However, on reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.
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 as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks.
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.
Dcns. Grace Isu Gekpe
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Culture,
Abuja
14th August, 2019
