Dr. Usman Ogbo, 40, Lecturer, Kogi
The federal government should either free him unconditionally or arraign him before a court of competent jurisdiction against the continuous unlawful detention, which is an infringement on his fundamental human rights.
Rakiya Audu, 23, Student, Abuja
The rule of law should prevail. It is against the law to apprehend and incarcerate someone for more than 48 hours without prosecution. If he’s found guilty, he should be punished. If not, he should be released. Nobody is above the law.
Igomu Ojogbami Benedict, 29, Banker, Abuja
El-Zakzaky is one bone in the throat of the federal government. Releasing him is as risky as keeping him. Either way, it is in the interest of the peace of Nigeria to keep him in detention at least for now. He was running a parallel military outfit that tested the might of our military and that is a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty. Any man who challenges our sovereignty has no right to walk free.
Illah Michael Ojodomo, 24, Student, Kogi
Well, I think the federal government should obey court order and release El-Zakzaky because the man has been in detention for months now without trial. Also, it has caused a lot of unnecessary unrests in the country. This case is almost congruent with that of the dreaded Boko Haram group. I believe the best thing the government can do at this point is to begin the process of his release and put the issue behind.
Michael Promise, 29, Self-employed, Abuja
The federal government should release him. Justice Kolawole’s verdict stands. He has already ruled that he should be released so government should obey the court order.
Safiya Stephanie Musa, Banker, Kano
The federal government should either release El-Zakzaky on bail, put him under close security watch and place a total ban on his sectarian (public) activities, or exile him to Iran where his allegiance lies. I think government really needs to stop keeping the man.
Harrison Okoro, Legal practitioner, Uyo
The continuous incarceration of the Shiite leader even after Justice Gabriel Kolawale of the Federal High Court Abuja Division had ordered since 2016 that he should be released and the SSS pay N25 million to him, is a gross violation of the rule of law. He should be released on bail immediately. However, if the government is of the view that he has committed any crime, then he should be charged to court and tried like any other Nigerian citizen for his alleged crimes.
