The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has come under fire from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) over the acquittal of Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group claimed that Malami’s actions are seriously driving Nigeria into a state of ridicule on a regional and global scale, with far-reaching effects on the nation’s socioeconomic advancement, regional and global human rights, the rule of law, and democracy rankings.
Kanu was released and found not guilty on Thursday by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, but a statement from the attorney general’s office argued that Kanu was simply discharged and not freed because he still faced a number of charges.
Intersociety Warns Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers Over Division
The board of trustees chairman of Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, issued the following statement to the press: “Intersociety hereby strongly condemns the Nigerian Government’s complete disregard and disobedience to the landmark judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal quashing the entirety of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s criminal trial.
“It must be clearly and strongly stated that the only option available to Nigeria’s Attorney General as the Law Officer of Nigeria is to fully consent to the landmark judgment or go on an appeal within the stipulated timeframe.
“Should the Nigerian Government decide to head to the Supreme Court in the exercise of its right under the country’s body of laws, then Nnamdi Kanu must first of all be set free-with the worst case scenario being to place him in a civil liberties-compliant movement surveillance.
BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu Discharged And Acquitted By Court
“The Nigerian Government’s disregard and disobedience to the unanimous verdict of the three Justices of the Court of Appeal was expressly contained in a press release from the Office of Attorney General of the Federation,” it said.
The group said the Attorney General’s decision to arrogate the power of interpretation to himself was unacceptable.
“Choosing what to obey and what not to obey in the landmark judgment is also tyrannical, vexatious, and democratically calamitous.
Ebonyi PDP Applauds Kanu’s Release And Conviction
“Consenting or not consenting to the landmark judgment is, however, immaterial to the order of the three Justices-led Court of Appeal: Release Nnamdi Kanu from protracted DSS dungeon,” it concluded.
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