Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been freed by a Kaduna state high court.
The presiding judge identified as Gideon Kurada while ruling on a no-case submission filed by the defendants held that the Kaduna state government failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.
Recall that Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife were arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace, among others.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The duo had been in detention since December 2015 following clashes between IMN members and soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna state.
The prosecution had closed its case after calling 15 witnesses.
Lead counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana had on July 1, argued that all the 15 witnesses presented by the prosecution failed to establish any connection between the alleged crimes and his clients.
He prayed the court to rule in favour of his clients and dismiss the charges levelled against them.
At the court session on Wednesday, amid tight security, the court agreed with the defendants and ruled in favour of their no-case submission.