The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Services to court over his prolonged detention and the refusal of the government to release his passport. 

In the fundamental human rights suit instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), El-Zakzaky is seeking seven reliefs, including an "order mandating the respondents to pay over to the applicant the sum of N2bn as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the applicant's rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property."

The cleric is also seeking a declaration that the seizure of his passport with number A50578740 since May 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates his fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights Act (CAP A9), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Shiite leader also wants the court to declare that the refusal of the DSS and the AGF to allow him to travel abroad for medical treatment constituted a threat to his life as guaranteed by Section 33 of the 1999Constitution.