After spending over five years in custody, it was freedom at last for the embattled leader of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh IBRAHIM EL-ZAKZAKY and his wife, ZEENAT.

They were set free yesterday by a State High Court in Kaduna.

In a ruling that lasted over eight hours, the presiding judge, Justice GIDEON KURADA upheld the no-case submission filed by EL-ZAKZAKY and his wife.

The ruling was delivered behind closed doors and journalists were not allowed inside the courtroom.

The defendants were taken to court by officials of the Nigerian Correctional service amid tight security.

The couple has been standing trial in the court for the past five years on an eight-count charge of culpable homicide, disruption of public peace and unlawful assembly among others levelled against them by the Kaduna State Government.

They were accused of being responsible for the death of a soldier during a confrontation with Shiites members in Kaduna in December 2015.

The event also led to the killing of high number of protesting Shiites members.

Counsel to EL-ZAKZAKY, MARSHAL ABUBAKAR and that of Kaduna state government, DARI BAYERO spoke to newsmen on the ruling.

A Public Affairs Commentator, Barrister LIBOROUS OSHOMA spoke with Inspiration FM on the travails and eventual release of the duo.