The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed reports that Zeenat El-Zakzaky, wife of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, never contracted the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
Naija News had reported that the son of the IMN leader, Mohammed said his mother, Zeenat, tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kaduna correctional centre after the family lawyer visited her parents at the facility.
It prompted groups to call for the release of the couple amidst concern about possible flare-up of infection among inmates.
However, the national public relations officer for NCoS, Francis Enobore, said the result of a test on Zeenat showed she tested negative for COVID-19.
According to him, the test was conducted in collaboration with Kaduna state government, her personal physician and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
He said: “Happily, the test result has been released and the inmate, including her contacts have no trace of COVID-19 virus.
“It is important to state with emphasis that Zeenat El-Zakzaky never contracted COVID-19 infection as was alleged.”
A court order to move her to a government hospital within the state capital was overturned before a second test.
Recall that El-Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since 2015 after his followers clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna.
The IMN leader is standing trial for alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace.
