The Security Council meeting was presided over by President Muhammdu Buhari. The Southeast, Nnamdi Kanu’s geopolitical zone, has no representation in the Council.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Apparently convinced by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, should not be set free as ruled by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, the National Security Council, which met on Friday, declared that the embattled IPOB leader was only acquitted but not discharged by the court.
Relying on Malami’s counsel therefore, the Federal Government said decision on Kanu’s fate will be taken in due course, not now as the law demands.
But this is contrary to the ruling of the Appellate Court which discharged and acquitted him.
The Security Council meeting was presided over by President Muhammdu Buhari. The Southeast, Kanu’s geopolitical zone, has no representation in the Council.
Malami had after the ruling on Thursday poured cold water on the prospects of Kanu regaining his freedom.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement signed by Malami’s spokesperson, Dr. Umar Jibril Gwandu, said.
“For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted. 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 on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”
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While briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, stated that a political solution was not discussed.
The Council, according to him, was therefore considering an appropriate action to take on the matter and would notify Nigerians of its final position on the matter in due course.
Dingyadi, joined by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, said what would become of the case against Kanu would be decided in coming days.
“Similarly, the issue of Nnamdi Kanu has also been raised and Council was briefed on the state of things on the matter and it was observed that Kanu was discharged, but he was not acquitted.
“So, government is considering the appropriate action to be taken on the matter and Nigerians will be notified of the position that will finally be taken on the matter in due course,” Dingyadi said.
He said the Council only discussed the Appeal Court judgement on Nnamdi Kanu but noted that solutions to these kind of matters can be considered as long as they are not subjudice.
The council also directed the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF) to set up a high-powered investigation committee into the crude oil theft in the Niger Delta with a view to unraveling those behind it.