Kanu's family blasts AGF, Fagbemi over comment on why Tinubu won't drop charge against Kanu

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Kanu’s family blasts AGF, Fagbemi over comment on why Tinubu won’t drop charge against Kanu

By Steve Oko

The family of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has blasted the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for saying that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration did not drop the treason charge against the IPOB Leader.

Fagbemi had while responding to questions after presenting President Tinubu’s scorecard on Friday in Abuja, said the current administration decided not to drop the charge against Kanu because the allegations against him were very serious, insisting that his fate would only be determined by the court.

The AGF maintained that since the matter is already pending in court, the law should be allowed to run its course.

He argued that the charge against Kanu was “remarkably different” from the charge against the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, which his office withdrew.

“Sowore and Kanu are not the same. When it comes to the first one, I did not have difficulty to say, go. But, I have difficulty with the second one.”

Both Kanu and Sowore were arrested and placed on trial by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kanu was charged with treasonable felony, while Sowore was, among other things, accused of attempting to overthrow the Buhari-led government through unconstitutional means.

Meanwhile, shortly after he assumed office as the AGF, Fagbemi, SAN, wrote to the Federal High Court in Abuja to terminate further hearing on the charge against Sowore.

On the other hand, the AGF briefed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a seasoned prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, to take over Kanu’s prosecution.

The IPOB leader is facing a seven-count charge the Federal Government preferred against him

But Kanu’s family in a swift response, berated the AGF over the remarks, and reminded him that the court he was referring to had already ordered for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, an order the federal government refused to honour.

The family in a statement issued by Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, accused the federal government of bias in Kanu’s prosecution, challenging the AGF to explain why the federal government is unwilling to complying with court orders when they favour the IPOB Leader.

Kanu’s family argued that his ‘abduction’ and extraordinary rendition from Kenya amounted to state terrorism, hence the federal government, as lacks the powers to put Kanu on trial having violated international laws to rendition him.

The family further wondered why the AGF was silent on Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba self determination agitator.

Below is a full text of the statement made available to Wawa News Global:”Mr AGF Fagbemi , the Appeal Court discharged Mazi Nnamdi Kanu The last time we checked, the Appeal Court Abuja Division is a competent court of law in Nigeria. So what has changed between the time the order of discharge was handed down and today?

“A Federal High Court ruled the kidnapping of MNK and detention as unlawful and arbitrary. Does it mean the Federal High Court that handed down this judgement is not a competent court of law in Nigeria?

“The fact that the AGF needs to bear in mind is that there seems to be a particular set or type of judge they want to hear this matter outside the protection of the rule of law, which will never happen in this case. We would like to advert the mind of the AGF to four critical laws in Nigeria which makes the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu impossible.

“1. Section 2 (3F) of the Terrorism Prevention & Prohibition Act 2022 states very clearly and unambiguously that any attempt to conduct a Kangaroo trial of a victim of kidnaping in defiance of the explicit provisions of the African Charter is commiting an act of terrorism. This is a subsisting Nigerian law which no amount of judicial somersault can overcome.

“2. The same Terrorism Prevention & Prohibition Act 2022 at Section 2 (3) (g) makes the kidnapping of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu-as affirmed by the Supreme Court- an offence and an act of terrorism. For the avoidance of doubt, the Supreme Court explicitly called the act of the Federal Government of Nigeria criminal.

“3. We refer you once again to Section 15 of another Nigerian law known as the Extradition Act to the exclusion of any other law in Nigeria, makes it very clear that in so far as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is concerned, only a Kenyan court can certify any charges triable in Nigeria. This is universally known as the Doctrine of Speciality.

“AGF, these laws which were written in simple understandable English, were made and passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria, which is the only organ constitutionally charged with law making not any court of law. Law courts interpret but are not lawmakers. No court can overturn these laws as long as they are extant and subsisting.

“We know there is an overwhelming financial incentive to secure the sham conviction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by every means necessary, even if it means the destruction of the basic foundations of common law criminal jurisprudence in Nigeria.

“You may try but we can assure you that it won’t be easy for you. Why are you silent on the issue of Igboho the Yoruba self determination agitator?”

Despite growing calls for political solution to Kanu’s matter, the Federal Government has remained adamant.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.