Protesting Shi’ites in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to lift the travel ban on the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
The protesters also demanded the release of the international passports of El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenah, for a medical trip.
They started the protest from the Federal High Court and later moved towards Louis Edet House, demanding the release of the international passports of El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Malama Zeenah, for a medical trip abroad.
A Federal High Court in Abuja earlier Thursday, had rejected an application filed by El-Zakzaky, asking the Department of State Services to release his passport and that of his wife.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruled that the Islamic cleric failed to prove that his passport was missing, despite the 10 exhibits provided by his lawyers, to prove that the DSS took the passports away, after his return from India in 2018.
The protesters were seen holding banners and placards that read: “Buhari must remove the travel ban on Sheikh El-Zakzaky.” There were also unconfirmed reports of shootings at the protests.
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