Address Nnamdi Kanu’s Family N800 M allegation: HURIWA tasks AGF;

…Says fortification of prosecution team shows Tinubu wants Nnamdi Kanu jailed.

Oru Leonard 

Foremost Civil Society Body:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has challenged the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to publicly address the allegation that N800 million is spent on each court appearance of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as made by his family at the weekend.

HURIWA said the loud silence from the federal government over this huge allegation made in the open by the family members of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable just as the Rights group stated that under the Freedom of information Act, the Federal Attorney General and minister of justice owes the citizens the obligation to give full disclosure on the alleged large amount said to be budgeted for facilitating the appearance in court of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

HURIWA said the suspicion raised in the alarm by the family of Mazi. Nnamdi Kanu that this juicy financial benefits could be the motivation for not letting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu be released on bail is logical except if the government briefs the country on why it needs to spend such a massive amount of public fund just to produce one citizen in court just as the Rights group said if this allegation is credible then those collecting such insane and callous amount of cash just to produce one person in court in a petrol driven vehicle within a distance of not less than 20 minutes drive from the fortified headquarters of the DSS to the Federal High Court complex at the central business district, must be made to give proper account or be prosecuted for financial crime and made to refund the cash to the TSA.

Besides, HURIWA is shocked that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who promised to grant pardon to Nnamdi Kanu when he campaigned for the office of president in the South East has rather turned around to engage the services of one of the most feared litigation lawyers in the country: Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) to lead the prosecution team against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, even as the group stated that this decision of the Federal government is enough evidence of a lack of will-power on the part of president Tinubu to free Nnamdi Kanu soon. “If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is desirous of granting pardon to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and to end the heightened state of insecurity in the South East of Nigeria, why then has the government gone ahead to hire one of the most fearsome criminal litigation lawyers in Nigeria in the person of Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN?”

“We similarly view the decision by President Tinubu not to grant Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a political resolution of his prolonged prosecution by the Nigerian State as a Sinister plot to prolong the activities of the agents of instability and insecurity in the South East with a view to punishing the Igbo region collectively for producing insignificant votes during the 2023 presidential poll.

“If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is quick to rightly terminate the needless prosecution by DSS of Mr. Omoyele Sowore of treason charges and facilitated the return of the Sunday Igbogho of Yoruba nation, then president Tinubu as a statesman of honour should honour his promise and stop the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This will assist in no small measure to bring about lasting peace, stability and economic growth to the Igbo region of Nigeria.

HURIWA recalled that the family of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, had at the weekend raised fresh concerns over his failing health. The Rights group is therefore calling on Mr. President to order the DSS to grant Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the best medical attention that his present health condition requires to avoid any untoward development.

According to his family members, the pro-Biafra agitator needs urgent medical attention to avert a major health crisis.

The family also says it would like to know those benefiting from the alleged N800 million that the Federal Government spends as the cost of bringing Kanu to court any time he is to make appearance.

Spokesman of the family, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, in a statement on Saturday, said the family heard that the Federal Government spends N800 million each time Kanu was brought to court.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has finally become a money-minting venture for a few corrupt individuals in the corridors of power.

“We heard that government spends N800 million each time he is brought to court. Then, we want to know who the beneficiaries of the said money are?

“Government should tell the people who collects and spends the money, and on what.

“Our fear is that if it’s true that such humongous amount of money were spent on bringing him to court any time he is to appear, then it may be impossible to grant him bail any time soon because the cabal benefiting from his continued incarceration may not be willing to let go of their oil well.”

Press statement dated on 15th March, 2024

By Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator of HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).