A civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has told Nigerian government to understand that continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, after his discharge by the Appeal court, is illegal.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the non release of Kanu by the Attorney-General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami after the Appeal court judgement, amount to gross disobedience to the judiciary, which is vested with powers as contained in Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Onwubiko also chided the National Security Council for allegedly keeping the IPOB leader in solitary confinement, describing the move as a clear violation of the judgement of the court.
According to HURIWA, the Security Council constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015, is dominated by the Muslim from the North and does not represent the ‘national posture’ as envisaged by the Federal Character principle contained in section 14(3) of the constitution.
Read the statement below:
“We have watched with utter shock and trepidation for the future of constitutionalism as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is seen and heard canvassing that President Muhammadu Buhari should violate and disobey a binding judgment completely annulling all charges filed against the long detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and we are disappointed at the disdain displayed by this political appointee of President Muhammadu Buhari who has acted as if he is in office to serve only the interest of the Fulani herdsmen because the President is Fulani by Ethnicity.
“The position of the Federal Attorney-General on the Court of Appeal’s considered judgment on Nnamdi Kanu is pedestrian, puerile, and laughable.
“We wonder why a lawyer of Malami’s illustrious status adorning the title of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria is now speaking like a one hundred level law student of one road-side law faculty in a corner of Nigeria.
“This holder of the High office of the AGF must take note that history won’t be kind to him for constantly been seen arguing against the principles of the Rule of law when he ought to speak and act as the unbiased chief law officer of the federation and not of Miyetti Allah Cattle Owners Association,” HURIWA said.
