On Wednesday, the trial of sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and his wife, Zeenat reopened at the Kaduna state high court.
El-Zakzaky and his wife are being prosecuted by the Kaduna State government on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace among other charges.
Last month, the hearing was adjourned to November 17 and 18 after the couple pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The defendants through their lawyer, Marshall Abubakar who represented Femi Falana, the lead counsel, had filed a no-case submission and asked the court to quash the case against them for lack of merit.
Abubakar noted that the Kaduna State government failed to mention any offence known to law contrary to Section 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended against his clients.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Gideon Kurada in his ruling, dismissed the no-case application on the ground that the application was premature in view of the clear provisions of the Kaduna State administration of criminal justice.
El-Zakzaky was detained in December 2015 following a clash between members of the IMN and the Nigerian Army which resulted in the death of over 300 members.
The pro-Iranian Shia group was also proscribed by the federal government.
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