Lai Mohammed says cleric is 'actually not in prison'

Speaking on the Federal Government's anti-corruption war on Channels TV yesterday, June 15, 2017, the minister revealed that the outspoken cleric is actually living with his family in a house provided by the Federal Government for his own benefit.

"How many Nigerians know that El Zakzaky is actually not in prison custody nor police custody nor DSS custody? El-Zakzaky is in a house with his family, this is the honest truth."

Addressing the government's rejection of court orders to release the cleric, the minister said the government is merely keeping him in protective custody because "nobody wants to accept him as a neighbour".

The minister said, "The court ruled that he will be released after his house has been rebuilt. Nobody wants to accept El-Zakzaky as a neighbor. So we have been able to build a house, where do we release him to."

He also defended the government's action on defying the court order, saying, "If a judgment is given and that judgment is appealed, you cannot accuse the government of violating a court order if the appeal has not been decided."

El-Zakzaky, 64, has been in custody since December 2015 when the Nigerian Army raided his residence in Zaria and killed hundreds of his followers, including three of his sons.

On December 2, 2016, a court ruling determined that the government's justification of "holding him for his own protection" is insufficient.