A Federal High Court, Abuja, has declined the application of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, seeking his immediate release from detention by the Department of State Services,DSS.

El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, that clashed with the Nigerian army in December 2015, has remained in custody ever since.

Justice Okon Abang held that El-Zakzaky ought to have obtained the leave of court for the matter to be heard during vacation.

He also explained that the applicant failed to serve the DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation, who were joined as respondents in the application.

Abang said that the case was initially assigned to Justice Gabriel Kolawole, by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

He consequently struck out the application for lack of competence.