Protesters have gathered for the third day in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to demand the release of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Mr. El-Zakzaky has been detained without trial by the Nigerian government since 2015.
The protests, which started peacefully on Monday and Tuesday turned violent after police forcefully dispersed the protesters.
As at 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, the protesters were gathering near the National University Commission in Maitama, getting set for the protest.
Scores of armed police officers were also in the area, causing panic among road users that the protest could turn violent again.
Legal hurdles on the road of Zakzaky's freedom
High Court yesterday fixed October 4 to rule on the bail application of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim Zakzaky, and his wife Zinat.
The presiding judge, Gideon Kurada, adjourned the matter after counsel to the defendants, Maxwell Kyon, moved the application for the bail of the first and second defendants.
Mr Kyon told reporters the prosecution had served the 3rd and 4th defendants, Yakubu Yahaya, and Sanusi Abdulqadir, respectively, standing trial with the Shiites leader.
Mr Kyon said the defense counsel had filed their bail application to the court and the prosecution had also filed their response.
He said that October 4 had been fixed for ruling of the bail application.
Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel, Chris Umar, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the court session that the 3rd and 4th respondents had been served through publications in the Daily Trust and The Nation newspapers.
NAN reports that the Kaduna State Government had brought an eight-count charge against the IMN leader, his wife and the two other IMN leaders based in Katsina and Kano.
The IMN leader, his wife, Yahaya and Abdulqadir were charged for alleged conspiracy, abating culpable homicide among other related offences.
El-Zakzaky has been detained for over two years by the State Security Service since over 300 members were killed by soldiers in December 2015.
For the first two years, he was detained without trial and despite a court order for his release.
He was earlier this year finally tried by the Kaduna government for his alleged roles in the December 2015 violence which occurred after IMN members blocked a road being used by Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
