El-Zakzaky wants to check into 5-star hotel, FG hints India may send him back

Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky: Indian government willing to send him back to Nigeria

The Nigerian government has responded to the blackmail of Sheikh El-Zakzaky, who is in India for medical treatment, saying that he and his followers have not been saying the truth.

In a statement by Grace Isu Gekpe, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Information government said El-Zakzaky has been his own problem in India as he has been making unrealistic demands, since he left Nigeria on Monday. And government hinted that an exasperated Indian government is willing to send the Shiite leader back to Nigeria.

Among El-Zakzaky’s demands are :He wanted his passport returned to him, he wanted to check into a five star hotel, rather than be admitted into Medanta Hospital, which he chose himself and he wanted his personal doctors to attend to him in Medanta, rather than the in-house doctors of Medanta.

As a result, of the stand-of that he had with Medanta Hospital doctors, he has not allowed preliminary checks to be conducted on him, government said.

According to the statement, El-ZakZaky began to behave waywardly on landing in Dubai, enroute India.

“On reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.

“He requested that his passport be handed over to him but the State officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks.

“In addition, he demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital. The request was refused on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his Visa was issued on medical grounds and not for tourism). He also demanded that Police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.

“Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate Doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife. This created a stalemate, which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment”.

Ms Gekpe said the Indian government has become exasperated by El-Zakzaky’s behaviour and is willing to return him to Nigeria ‘with immediate effect’.

Read the full statement:

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THE TRUE STORY ON EL-ZAKZAKY IN INDIA

The Court on 5th August, 2019 granted Sheikh Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment. Consequently, the Government and its relevant agencies took steps to comply with the Order.

In line with the Court Order, El-Zakzaky was approved to embark on the trip with State officials and his choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal Doctors was not opposed by the government.

On 12th August, 2019, he and other members of the entourage went to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India. However, on reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.

He requested that his passport be handed over to him but the State officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks.

In addition, he demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital. The request was refused on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his Visa was issued on medical grounds and not for tourism). He also demanded that Police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.

Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate Doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife. This created a stalemate, which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment.

Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect. This is on the account that they will not allow him use their country to internationalize his group’s activities.

Against this background, the Nigerian government wishes to commend the stand of the Indian Government as well as apologize to her for the unruly behaviour of El-Zakzaky. Similarly, the attention of the public and indeed the international community is hereby drawn to these unfortunate developments.

The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through due process if and when he is returned to the country. On this note, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be disregarded.

Dcns. Grace Isu Gekpe
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Culture,
Abuja.

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