Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has reacted to , apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo setting up a team to monitor the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Conveying his thoughts on the development in a statement released by his spokesperson Umar Gwandu, Malami stated that it is “in line with the doctrine of the right of fair hearing rooted in section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
However stating that the monitoring group is “unnecessary”, Malami added that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government respects the rule of law and does not advocate for the breach of law.
According to the AGF, justice will be adequately served to Nnamdi Kanu in compliance with the enshrined provisions of the law “with or without the so-called monitoring group.”
He said;
“In similar vein the group showed a mature departure from the mindset of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, when Ohanaeze said they ‘do not support the use of any form of violence’, while channeling concerns and presenting demands.
“By urging the youths to be law-abiding and sheath their sword as well as asking them to try to obtain voter’s card to enable them contribute to national development, the position of Ohanaeze becomes glaringly constitutional and commendable.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government respects the rule of law and does not advocate for the breach of law. Hence, with or without the so-called monitoring group, justice will be adequately served to Nnamdi Kanu in compliance with the enshrined provisions of the law.
“It is hoped that the unnecessary legal monitoring group will come with open-mind and guided by nothing but the rule of law in the process so as to convey the judgment of the Court as may eventually be delivered to their people in various languages and dialects of the members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo communities and the entire Nigerians.”
