Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide filed against him in a Kaduna High Court.
Justice Gideon Kurada took the plea of the IMN leader at the resumed hearing of the motion in a no-case-submission filed by El-Zakzaky on August 7.
Justice Kurada had, however, fixed September 29, for ruling in the motion, after counsel to the defendant, Abubakar Marshall, holding the brief for Femi Falana, SAN, asked the court to quash the charges preferred against El-Zakzaky by the government for not “disclosing an offence known to law contrary to sections 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended”.
At the resumed sitting, Kurada again reserved ruling in the motion until hearing in the substantive suit.
Also, the Judge, after taking the plea of the defendant adjourned until November 18 and 19 to enable the prosecution to present its witnesses.
The IMN leader filed the motion seeking the court to quash the State government’s case against him for lack of evidence.
The IMN leader and his wife Zinat are standing trial on allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace, among other charges.
Mr. Dari Bayero, who led the prosecution, told reporters shortly after the hearing, that the State has assembled more than 20 witnesses to give evidence before the court.
Bayero said personnel of the Nigerian Army and that of the Nigeria Police were among witnesses assembled to give evidence in the case against the defendant.
The IMN leader and his wife Zinat are standing trial on allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace, among other charges.
Abubakar Marshall, counsel to the defendant, holding brief for Falana, also told reporters shortly after the adjournment that his motion on no-case submission had been reserved until the end of hearing in the main suit.
He said that his client had taken a not-guilty-plea and ” we are waiting for the prosecution to present its witnesses”.
(NAN)