Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky today pleaded not guilty to the eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide filed against him in a Kaduna High Court.

Justice Gideon Kurada who listened to the plea of the IMN leader at the continuation of the hearing of the motion of a no-case-submission filed by El-Zakzaky on August 7, however,  fixed September 29 for ruling in the motion, after counsel to the defendant, Abubakar Marshall, holding the brief for Femi Falana, SAN, asked the court to nullify the charges preferred against El-Zakzaky by the government for not “disclosing an offence known to law contrary to sections 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended”.

At the resumed sitting, Kurada again reserved ruling in the motion until hearing in the substantive suit.

The Judge, after taking the plea of the defendant postponed until November 18 and 19 to enable the prosecution present its witnesses.

The IMN leader who had filed a suit seeking the court to repeal the State government’s case against him for lack of evidence is together with his wife, Zinat standing trial on allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.

Mr Dari Bayero, who led the prosecution, told newsmen shortly after the hearing that the State has brought together more than 20 witnesses to give evidence before the court and further disclosed that personnel of Nigerian Army and that of the Nigeria Police were among witnesses assembled to give evidence in the case against the defendant.

Counsel to the defendant, Abubakar Marshall, holding brief for Falana, also told newsmen shortly after the adjournment that his motion on no-case submission had been reserved until the end of hearing in the main suit.  He added that his client had taken a not-guilty-plea and “we are waiting for the prosecution to present its witnesses.”