Pan-Igbo cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has subtly accused Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) of bias in the case against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The attorney-general had asked the federal high court, Abuja to rearrest Nnamdi Kanu for flouting his bail conditions.
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, John Nwodo, president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said Malami acted without regards to his oath of office. He said the Arewa youth who had given a quit notice to the Igbo living in north and “pretended” to withdraw it ought to be arrested but instead Malami looked the other way.
He said Kanu is a citizen of the country and “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”.
The statement:
“It has just been brought to my notice that the Attorney-General of the Federation has approached the courts to incarcerate Nnamdi Kanu for flouting his bail conditions.
“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.”
The president-general further asked Malami not to “exacerbate our already tense nation by commencing a legal action which portrays him as biased, insensitive and misdirected.
“I and some Igbo leaders have differences of opinion with Nnamdi on a number of issues. We have been insulted and abused by Radio Biafra but we concede them their right to differ from us. We concede them their nature to be exuberant as Youths but we cannot be judgmental about their rights.
“This is a democracy. In democracies leaders are abused, pelted with rotten eggs and booed at, as the former Edo state governor was booed in Abuja a few days ago. These acts are not necessarily criminal.”
