Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has revealed that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was only discharged and not acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
It should be recalled that a recent Appeal Court sitting in Abuja discharged Kanu who was being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 count charges which border on treasonable felony and terrorism.
While delivering its judgment, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court does not have the jurisdiction to try Kanu in view of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.
Also, the court held that the 15-count charge preferred against Kanu did not reveal the place, date, time, and nature of the alleged offences before he was unlawfully extradited to Nigeria in clear violation of international treaties. The court held further that the Federal Government did not disclose where Nnamdi Kanu was arrested despite the grave allegations of terrorism against him.
While reacting to the court ruling, Malami in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Dr Umar Jibril Gwandu, said the appeal court only discharged Kanu but did not acquit him.
The statement read: “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.
“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 single issues that border 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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