The Nigerian government has indicated that it would not release Nnamdi Kanu despite Thursday’s Court of Appeal judgement.
Instead of releasing Mr Kanu as ordered by the court, the government says it is reviewing its legal options and could institute other charges against him.
The government said it would consider its legal options after the Court of Appeal discharged Mr Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), of all pending charges.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, in the government’s first official reaction, said the federal government’s decision on the case would be announced to the public after a review of available legal options.
Mr Malami’s reaction is contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, late on Thursday. It excluded any commitment to the release of the separatist leader from custody as ordered by the appeal court.
The statement, devoid of clarity or concrete position on any issues raised in the court’s decision, also insisted that the Court of Appeal only discharged the IPOB leader and did not acquit him.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.
“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public,” Mr Malami’s spokesperson wrote.
