Kanu is free to hold any view so long as they are not inciting - Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo apex socio-political group, has condemned call by the federal government for the re-arrest and bail revocation of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu.
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, who made the statement on behalf of the group, also accused the federal government of bias, double standard and violation of Kanu’s fundamental human rights especially for refusing to arrest the Arewa Youths whom he said issued threatening and hate speech to Ndigbo.
Nwodo also urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to “please respect your oath of office,” wondering why the AGF would move to re-arrest Kanu while refusing to do anything to stop the Arewa youths whom he said only ‘pretended’ to withdraw the quit notice they issued to Igbo in the North.
He also warned against worsening the already tensed nation by pursuing a legal means for the incaceration of Kanu, maitaining that “Nnamdi, as a citizen of Nigeria, is free to hold any point of view no matter how displeasing to anyone so long as they are not inciting or provoking any criminal activities.”
Kanu was granted bail on April 25, 2017. The federal government approached the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday, seeking the revocation of the bail of Kanu.
The application was attached as a press release and made available to journalists by Salihu Isah, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Minister of Justice. In the application, the federal government is seeking an order of court revoking the bail granted Kanu on April 25.
The government is also seeking an order of court directing the arrest and committing Kanu to custody pending trial as well as any such order the court may deem fit in the circumstance. The application which has the name of the lead prosecuting counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, explained that the call for revocation of Kanu’s bail was on the grounds that he has breached his bail conditions.
Nwodo spoke in a release titled,‘Attorney General of the Federation, please respect your oath of office!’ He said the Attorney-General of the Fedferation looked the other way while the Arewa youths kept issueng conditions for the enjoyment of citizenship in Nigeria as ensured by President Muhammadu Buhari in his speech upon return to Nigeria from London.
“I am amazed that the distinguished Attorney is prepared to contest the superiority of the provisions of the Constitution on fundamental human rights of freedom of movement and freedom of association over an erroneous judicial proclamation violating those rights.
“I am equally miffed by the audacity with which the Attorney General displays his bias without regard to his oath of office.
“A few hours ago under the watchful eyes of the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and in total defiance of the Head of State’s proclamation of the rights of a citizen of Nigeria to live anywhere in Nigeria and to do business anywhere in Nigeria, the Arewa youths, pretending to withdraw their quit notice gave qualifications to the Head of State’s proclamation, issuing conditions for enjoyment of citizenship status.
“These same Arewa youths are supposed to have been arrested on the orders of the Governor of Kaduna state and the Inspector General of Police for acts of treason, conversion and sedition.
“As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, the Attorney General looks the other way. He does not go to court to seek an order of arrest or prosecution.”
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