Less than 48 hours after their acquittal, the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his sick wife, Zeenat, have travelled abroad.
Zeenat us said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital abroad to attend to her ill-health.
They were on Wednesday, after spending six years in prison, discharged and acquitted by a High Court on charges of culpable homicide.
Justice Gideon Kurada discharged them from the eight charges pressed against them by the Kaduna State government for lack of merit.
In a statement, the son of the Islamic cleric, Mohammed El-Zakzaky, said the father traveled alongside his ailing wife.
He thanked Allah and all whot stood by them in the last six years.
He said: “As you are aware, yesterday my father Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and Mother Zeenah Ibraheem have recently regained their freedom, after the Kaduna state High Court discharged and acquitted them of all charges filed by the current Kaduna State Administration.
“I along with our entire family, wish to especially thank those men, women and children who stood firm in the face of injustice, risking life and limb to demand justice and freedom for them, both inside and outside this country.
“Of special note are the heroes who marched daily in Abuja non stop for 5 years, a monumental act of sacrifice seldom heard of and certainly unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
“I wish to express our gratitude to human rights organizations who continued to help provide us with a voice during this difficult time.
“Of special note Amnesty international, Human Rights Watch and especially The Islamic Human Rights Commission for ensuring that the Atrocities carried out in December 2015 could not be simply covered up.
“We hail the efforts of free media and those journalists whose commitment to the truth shone even in the face of censorship, threats and often lethal violence.
“We commend your steadfastness and bravery, and wish to thank you for all those times you refused to turn a blind eye to tyranny, discrimination and other crimes being committed in the name of the state.
“Last but certainly not least I wish to thank my parent’s competent and loyal legal team that was ably led by Chief Femi Falana SAN, who despite all the malicious maneuvers to delay, manipulate and obstruct judicial due process, the legal team persevered and ultimately prevailed. We will be eternally grateful for your efforts.”
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State governent, on Friday filed fresh charges against El-Zakzaki.