Nigeria, Iran in fresh talks over El-Zakzaky

Nigerian and Iranian governments are holding fresh talks on the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Seyed Abbas Mousavi, on Sunday, told the FNA that negotiations are on with Nigerian officials on how to improve the conditions of El-Zakzaky who has been in jail for the past four years.
He said the Iranian Vice President for Economic Affairs, Mohammad Nahavandian,  met with President Buhari in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on El-Zakzaky’s case.

The recent meeting, he said, took place on the sidelines of the fifth Summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum held in Equatorial Guinea.

Mousavi said, “The two sides spoke of mutual economic relations, regional and international affairs, as well as El-Zakzaky in this meeting.

“The Islamic Republic, in the held meetings with the Nigerian side in Tehran and Abuja, is negotiating Zakzaky issue to follow up the improvement of his conditions.”

A Nigerian High Court had, on December 5, ordered the Department of State Services to transfer the cleric and his wife, Zinat, to the Correctional Centre in Kaduna State.

The IMN leader and his wife are standing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.