By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA—The Federal Government has said that it would be against public interest and national security to release leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMAN, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky at this time.

Outlining the obstacles to the release of the IMAN leader, a Presidency official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that it was a “Major constitutional policy objective of government as stated in section 14 (2) (b) is public and not individual security.”

The official said that Zakzaky’s release was beyond a judicial pronouncement as public safety should also be factored into the whole equation.

Shiite Leader, Sheik Ibrahim El-zakzaky

“The issue of the release of Zak zaky is not exclusively legal. It has security and public implications as against individual interest. Public interest and national security implications must be  considered, in line with international practices that conventionally place national security and public interest above individual claim of right.

“The Federal Government is looking into the case, more importantly the public and security implications,” the official said.

On the detention of the leader’s wife, the source stated she was not of any security interests, stressing that she was merely keeping her husband company in the apartment in which he is kept.

“She is not under detention. If it is her wish, that of her husband or of the IMAN, she will allowed to go home in a matter of hours,” the source disclosed.

The official explained that El-Zakzaky’s spouse was picked up by the Department of Security Services, DSS beside her husband with bullet wounds following IMAN’s encounter with the army.

“They took her along with the husband, treated her wounds and allowed her to care for her husband. Upon his request on an occasion, the children joined them during Ramadan. That is what happened,” said the source.