Nnamdi Kanu: Peace will return to the S’East- Theodore Orji
Senator Theodore Orji, who served as the immediate-past governor of Abia State and represents Abia Central in the Senate, applauded the Court of Appeal’s decision on Thursday that cleared IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of all seven terrorism-related charges that the Federal Government had brought against him.
This is in line with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s comments that the landmark decision will bring peace back to the South East region while serving as the former Senate Minority Leader and Senator for Abia South.
The two praised the court for having the guts to render the decision based on the preponderant evidence in their respective responses to the verdict.
They praised the verdict as “landmark” and urged the Federal Government to release Kanu immediately in accordance with the court’s ruling.
In a statement issued by his liaison officer, Hon. Ifeanyi Umere, Senator Orji claimed that the ruling would enhance Nigeria’s standing as a nation that upholds the law around the world.
In an interview with Vanguard, Abaribe urged the Federal Government to fully abide by the ruling instead of appealing it for the good of the nation.
Senator Abaribe further urged the Federal Government to use the opportunity and resolve agitations ignited by injustice and exclusion in various parts of the country.
His words: “We thank God that Justice has been done by the appeal court. Peace will now return to the South-East and the conflict entrepreneurs who have besieged the South-East and made life difficult for our people will be put to shame.
“We implore the Federal Government not to contest the judgement but to seize this opportunity to resolve all the agitations in the South East and other parts of Nigeria due to injustice and marginalization.”
The release by Senator Orji read in part:” It’s a landmark judgement not only for the Judiciary and Democracy but also for the Rule of Law in Nigeria, positioning the country in a positive light in the comity of Nations and for the sustenance of the Independence of Judiciary.”
Meanwhile, Kanu’s family has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to honour his earlier promise of not interfering with the court proceedings but abiding by the court’s decisions.
Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu who spoke with Vanguard on phone said he expected President Buhari to simply remember his promise to the Igbo delegation and honour his own words.
“I hold Mr. President by his own words. Over six months ago when the Igbo delegation met with him, he promised not to meddle in the affairs of the court, promising to allow the rule of law.
” Now that the rule of law has taken place, I expect him to keep to his words.”
Kanu’s family further noted that full compliance with the court judgement would help to dounce the rising tension in the South East.
“My prayer is that the Federal Government should harken to the judgement and obey it completely and haphazardly.
” It will help to bring peace. As soon as he is released, there won’t be any sit-at-home again. Then genuine negotiations will start.
” Nnamdi Kanu is not asking for too much. He wants justice for the people. He is not the problem that Nigeria has; he is only part of the solution but those in power don’t want to realise this simple truth”.
Kanu’s Special Counsel, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, has criticized AGF Abubakar Malami for saying that new legal theories would be investigated in an effort to convict Kanu.
In a statement, Ejimakor stated that no new accusation against Kanu would be legal given that his extradition from Kenya is entirely illegal in and of itself and that Nigeria cannot be used to profit from illegal activity.
The statement read in part:” The position of AGF Malami on the Court of Appeal judgment regarding Nnamdi Kanu is flatly wrong and it is perverse to boot.
“If the FG refuses or stalls on releasing Kanu solely because it desires to levy further or new charges, it will amount to a burgeoning holding charge which is impermissible in our jurisprudence.
“Further, no new charges can stick against Kanu because, in the present circumstance, the extraordinary rendition is an abiding factor that has created a permanent barrier to his prosecution.
“Keep in mind that the extant trial of Kanu could never have proceeded had he not been illegally renditioned. So, it is not legally possible to lose jurisdiction in the extant charges and at once obtain jurisdiction in the next round of charges.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal has, therefore, grandfathered a continuing lack of prosecutorial jurisdiction that will, in the interim, be very hard to overcome.
“Thus, before the levying of any new charges can have a toga of legality or chances of conferring prosecutorial jurisdiction, Kanu has to be released first. Anything to the contrary will be nugatory.”
