The Federal Government has provided an explanation for why it is unable to abide by the court’s order for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu was a threat to national security and a flight risk, according to the government’s testimony before the Abuja Appeal Court.
David Kaswe, an Assistant State Counsel in the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office, informed the court that the case against Kanu had national security implications.
He stated that for the sake of national interest, the IPOB leader’s fundamental rights should be suspended.
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Kaswe said: “It is important to appreciate the gamut of depositions in our application. The Respondent is a flight risk person and one of the grounds of our application is that this matter touches on national security of the State.
“Once there is a threat to national security, human rights of any individual can be suspended until such threat is taken care of.”
Kaswe also informed the court that releasing Kanu would worsen the security situation in the South East.
“The defendant has shown that he has the capacity to jump bail or to escape from lawful custody.
“There is reasonable intelligence that the enforcement of judgement of this court, pending determination of our appeal at the Supreme Court, may impact negatively on the declining security in the South East,” he said.
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Kanu was cleared of all terrorism-related charges by the Appeal Court a few weeks ago.
The Federal Government has resisted releasing the IPOB leader notwithstanding the court’s decision.
Kanu cannot be released since the AGF, Abubakar Malami, warned that new charges would be brought against him.
The Department of State Services, or DSS, has had Kanu imprisoned since June 2021.
After being detained in Kenya, he was the target of extraordinary rendition.
Upon his return, the Federal Government filed terrorism-related accusations against him.
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The IPOB leader’s fight for the actualization of Biafra led to his first incarceration in 2017.
He had been granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court.
Kanu left the country shortly after being freed and continued his Biafra movement in Europe.
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