The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that it costs the Nigerian governments N3.5 million naira a month to feed Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shiite.

The minister was responding to the decision of the Kaduna court that denied the IMN leader bail. This statement has gone viral on social media causing various reactions by Nigerians.

Since December 2015, El-Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention after they were arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State. They were first arraigned on May 15, 2018 and charged over alleged murder, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace, among others. They have been denied bail severally which has led to massive protests by his supporters.

According to the minister, “the issue of whether, where he is, let’s keep it off record. He is in a residence and eating; I mean, it costs the government N3.5 million naira every month to feed him.”

“I asked. We don’t want to inflame passion. Islamic Movement in Nigeria is a different kettle of fish.”

Watch the video released by P. TV: