The National Security Council on Friday threw its weight on the position of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the Court of Appeal only discharged the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in its judgment but did not acquit him of the charge for which he was facing trial.
The Council also said that any political solution to the matter would be within the context of the law even as former Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has said that the judgement would restore peace to the South East zone. Kanu’s Special Counsel, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, on his part faulted the position of the Attorney General which he described as flatly wrong and perverse.
The Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had only been discharged by the Appeal Court and that the government will explore necessary actions available to it to press on with the matter.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the security meeting, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, joined by his Interior Ministry counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, said the council did not discuss the issue of a possible political solution to Kanu’s case which Malami had broached in November 2021.
He said the government will consider appropriate actions on the matter and notify the public.
He said the council only discussed the Appeal Court judgement but noted that solutions to this kind of matter can be considered as long as they are not subjudice.
Nigeria’s Minister of police affairs said, “The issue of Kanu has also been raised and the council was briefed on the state of things on the matter. And it was observed that Kanu was discharged but he is not acquitted so, the government is considering the appropriate action to be taken on the matter and Nigerians will be notified of the position that will be finally taken on the matter in due course”.
