The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has stated that the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, must face trial in a competent court of law.
Fagbemi made this statement in response to Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s comment that it was a mistake for the Nigerian government to keep Kanu in prison, News About Nigeria reports.
Soyinka had said, “It is a mistake keeping Nnamdi Kanu in prison, I believe. In fact, they kidnapped him.”
He further described Kanu’s language as inciteful but emphasised that arrest and kidnapping were not the solutions.
The AGF, however, clarified that Kanu’s case was already in court and should be left to the law to take its course.
He pointed out that there was a significant difference between Kanu’s case and that of Omoyele Sowore, adding that Kanu was being held in accordance with the Constitution.
Fagbemi also mentioned that the federal government had secured 250 convictions for terrorism and other criminal offences in the past year.
This statement came during the Sectoral Ministerial Briefing on the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on Friday.
Meanwhile, Kanu’s lawyers have filed a preliminary objection at the Federal High Court Abuja, asking the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, to decline jurisdiction to proceed with the trial against him.
The lawyers argue that the court lacks jurisdiction to try Kanu for the offences charged, citing international tribunal decisions against his arrest, detention, prosecution, and trial.
They also pointed out that the law under which Kanu is being tried has been repealed and is not supported by proof of evidence, making it an abuse of the court process
The lawyers are seeking the court to decline jurisdiction over Count 15, as it is not in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and lacks territorial jurisdiction.
Justice Nyako had earlier dismissed Kanu’s request for the restoration of his revoked bail and his removal from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to house arrest or prison custody.
