The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat have been discharged and acquitted by State High Court, Kaduna, after pleading not guilty.

Mr El-Zakzaky and his wife have been facing trial since 2015 on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, disruption of the public peace, unlawful assembly among other charges.

Both of them were brought before the court by the Kaduna State Government after a clash in Zaria between IMN supporters and soldiers in 2015.

Mr El-Zakzaky and his wife were brought to court on Wednesday amid tight security by the Nigerian Correctional Service officials.

The lawyer representing Kaduna State in the matter, Dari Bayero, had on March 31, asked the court to sentence the couple based on extant laws.

However, counsel to the defendant, Femi Falana (SAN), told journalists after the proceeding that no case has been established to warrant his client being in court.

Justice Gideon Kurada slated Wednesday, July 28, to rule on a no-case submission filed by Mr El-Zakzaky on July 1.

Peoples Gazette reported that the “secret trial” of the duo started on November 18, 2020, at the Kaduna state high court.

The prosecution presented a total of 15 witnesses and had admitted several items in evidence.