NIA denying seizing El-Zakzaky, wife’s passports

The Nigerian Intelligence Agency has told the Islamic Movement of Nigeria that it was not in possession of the international passports of its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenah.

The NIA made the clarification amidst protests by the Academic Forum of IMN and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), over the refusal of the government to release their travel documents.

The couple could not travel abroad for medical treatment after being discharged and acquitted by a Kaduna State High Court.

The terse reply by the NIA with Ref. No. N/OPS/14’4A/VOL.2, dated August 12 and signed by one I. Giwa for its Director-General, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, was sent to a senior lawyer in Falana’s chambers, Marshal Abubakar.

The response was titled, ‘Re: Request for the release of the international passport (and other documents) of Sheikh Ibrahim Yaqub El-Zakzaky and Malama Zeenah Ibrahim’, was obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday.

“I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 2, 2021, on the above subject matter and to inform you that the agency is not in possession of the international passports or any other documents belonging to Sheikh Ibrahim Yaqub El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenah Ibrahim.

“Please, accept the assurances of the DG, NIA’s high consideration and esteem,” the letter stamped ‘Confidential’ explained.

The Punch reported that the Secretary of the Academic Forum of IMN, Abdullahi Muhammad, in a petition to the United Nations, European Union, Amnesty International, National Human Rights Commission, Canada, Norway and Switzerland, called on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government to obey the court order and release the passports of El-Zakzaky and his wife.