Members of the House of Representatives, have called on the federal government to release the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky without further delay.
The call by the lawmakers followed a violent protest by members of the movement, Shi’ites, at the premises of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The protest left nine police officers injured and several cars destroyed.
The members are calling for his release from detention in accordance with the rulings of several high courts granting him bail.
El-Zakzaky has been in detention since December 2015, following the alleged death of a soldier during a clash between soldiers and his supporters.
At Wednesday’s plenary, the Minority Leader, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, raised a motion calling for investigation into the matter.
He also asked that adequate security measures be put in place at the legislative chamber.
The motion received the support of some of his colleagues, who argued that the circumstances surrounding the El-Zakzaky issue were similar to what led to the emergence of the Boko Haram terrorists group.
Onofiok Luke from Akwa Ibom said: “If the court has given an order for the release of the man, we should call on the government to release him. The discourse should not be on the invasion of the National Assembly alone.”
Mr. Bamidele Salam from Osun State, said El-Zakzaky’s continued detention was an injustice, adding “injustice to one is injustice to all.
“I want to urge the federal government to look into the matter of the leader of this movement and allow the rule of law to take its course.
“If we are able to secure the national assembly, what happens to the man and woman in the market elsewhere?”
Also supporting the motion, Simon Davou from Plateau state noted that rather than hold El-Zakzaky against court orders, the government should release him and ensure surveillance, with enough security operatives to monitor his activities.”