Tobias Sylvester
The Federal Government has accused Iran of sponsoring the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, to turn Nigeria into an Islamic State.
In a 56-paragraphed counter-affidavit filed against IMN’s motion challenging the Federal High Court’s order of July 26 to proscribe the Shiites group, the Nigerian government alleged that El-Zakzaky had the full support of the Iranian government to establish an Islamic State in Nigeria.
In the fresh motion which was filed before Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday 27th August 2019, the government also alleged that El-Zakzaky was being sponsored to replicate a violent revolution that led to the forceful takeover of power in Iran in 1979.
FG told the court that the relationship between El-Zakzaky and Iran started shortly after the said revolution that toppled a sitting government, stressing that currently, members of the IMN, do not recognize President Muhammadu Buhari’s authority.
It said that El-Zakzaky who was a Shia activist in the University was “heavily influenced” by the Iranian revolution, and had since galvanized his followers and brainwashed them to unleash mayhem against the Nigerian State and its citizens
Justice Nkeonye Maha fixed September 11 for the hearing of the motion filed on behalf of the IMN by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).
