Why FG Is Not Ready To Release Nnamdi Kanu - Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi

 

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, on Friday, explained why the Federal Government cannot release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Without minding words, Prince Fagbemi said Nnamdi Kanu’s case is a very complex and difficult one, which should be allowed for the court to decide.

The AGF stated this why fielding questions at the sectoral ministerial briefing to mark the one year in office of the President Bola Tinubu led All Progressives Congress administration.

When asked the reason behind the continued detention and trial of the IPOB leader, at a time the convener of “Revolution Now” Omoyele Sowore and leader of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemi aka Igboho have been freed, the Minister of Justice said the cases are “different”.

The Minister categorically said the case is a difficult one and therefore should be left in the hands of the court to determine.

“Sowore and Kanu are not the same, when it comes to the first one, I didn’t have difficulty to say go, but I have difficulty with the second one” Fagbemi stated.

The AGF posited that Kanu is being held in accordance with the Constitution, insisting that “the matter is still in court, let’s wait for the court”.

Kanu had on Monday May 20, 2024, told Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, that the he cannot be prosecuted in Nigeria because the Supreme Court had declared his forceful rendition from Kenya, an act of illegality, having violated an international treaty, which Nigeria is a signatory to.

“My Lord, I don’t understand why my trial is being conducted contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kanu said.

He insisted that the Supreme Court had made a pronouncement on his issue, stressing that “Anything you do on the contrary is an act of terrorism.

“It is the law of this country. Section 2(3)(f) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2022, is there for everybody to see. Malami made the law” Kanu stated.

It would be recall that Sowore was arrested in 2019, and prosecuted for allegedly calling for a revolution to forcefully oust the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, in February 2024, the Federal Government through the office of the AGF filed a notice of discontinuation of the case, which was subsequently struck out by the Federal High Court Abuja.