Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai has said the N3.5 million the federal government spends every month to feed Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also covers the security around him.
Minister of information, Lai Mohammed last week had said the federal government spends N3.5 million every month to feed El-Zakzaky.
However, speaking when he received the management team of The Sun Newspaper in Kaduna on Thursday, the governor said the amount covered the cost of feeding those around Zakzaky.
He said the Shi’ite leader was not detained illegally but held in custody as ordered by the court.
“The N3.5 million monthly feeding on El-Zakzaky is not only about his food, but other expenses on security men attached to him.
“The security men are permanently stationed with him, they surrounded where he is kept,” el-Rufai said.
“He is in custody because he is facing murder charge which is not bailable, among other charges.
“As a government, we decided to proscribe Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) of which El-Zakzaky is the president because it is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“So any procession in the name of IMN is illegal, as far as Kaduna State government is concerned.”
