Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation has said that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was only discharged and not acquitted of the charges the Muhammadu Buhari administration levelled against him, thus he may not be released immediately.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Malami’s remarks were contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, late on Thursday.
It excluded any commitment to the release of the separatist leader from custody as ordered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
“For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted,” Malami said.
“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.
“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition.
“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predate rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.
“The federal government will consider all available options open to us.”
Meanwhile, speaking on Thursday night on Channels Television’s News At 10, one of Kanu’s lawyers, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the IPOB Leader, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), should be allowed to go home on Friday.
“What it (the ruling) means is that Nnamdi Kanu was discharged today,” Ozekhome said. “That means he is a free man.
“And he should be allowed to go home tomorrow by the time we get a certified true copy of the judgment, we serve it to the Office of the Attorney-General and the DSS to allow Nnamdi Kanu go,” Ozekhome said.
