…As Justice Minister Gives Account of One Year in Office
The Federal Government has ruled out the much expected political solution towards release of the long detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
It would be recalled that the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami had in June, 2021 in formed Nigerians that Nnamdi Kanu was intercepted in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria on 27 June, 2021. Since then Kanu had been under the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) while undergoing trials.
Also, the South East Elder statesmen including late Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Late Prof. Ben. Nwabueze and Late Amb. Prof. George Obiozor, a former President General of Ohan’eze Nd’Igbo Worldwide, had before their demise advocated for political solution and demanded for the release of Kanu.
Presently, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohan’eze Nd’Igbo Worldwide; Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, among others have called for the release of Kanu to them as part of solutions towards restoring peace in the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
But while reacting to questions on continuing detention of the IPOB Leader, on Friday during one year Ministerial briefing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said that Kanu is being held under the rule of law and the court.
According to Fagbemi, “So, Nnamdi Kanu is being held under the rule of law and the court.
“Let’s wait for the decision of the court. No one will be held outside the laws of the country.”
On why the likes of Omoyele Sowore and Sunday Igboho were released while Kanu remains in the custody of the DSS, the Minister said, “Nnamdi Kanu and Sowore’s case are not the same. If I see Sowore, I don’t know him, if I see Nnamdi Kanu, I don’t know him.
Meanwhile, the Minister enumerated that within the timeframe of one year in office, through the Ministry’s mandate of enhancing national security and safety through prosecution, the Ministry secured 160 convictions for criminal offences, 87 convictions for terrorism cases, 3 novel convictions for extremist terrorism actors involved in the radicalization of children and violence against women.
Also, he said the Ministry has concluded conviction of 13 Terrorism financing cases as well as successfully concluded 150 Mutual Legal Assistance requests and 12 Extradition requests from Law Enforcement Agencies and foreign countries.
In the case of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Minister said the Agency in the past 11 months recorded seizure of approximately 959,917.30 kg of illicit drugs, arrested 13,798 suspected drug traffickers, and secured the conviction of 3,247 drug offenders, demonstrating its commitment to upholding the rule of law.
In the period under review, Fagbemi disclosed that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has secured 65 convictions comprising 57 perpetrators of human trafficking and 8 offenders who were prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Act.
Further, he said the Agency also facilitated the rescue and repatriation of 44 victims of human trafficking from various countries, rescued 1,600 victims of human trafficking, out of which 340 victims were empowered with various skill acquisitions, with 90 victims enrolled in school for educational empowerment.
On its part, he said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has through ongoing advocacy and collaboration efforts, handled a total of 2,849,203 complaints from the public on various human rights issues.
