Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, says the President, Muhammadu Buhari, will consider the interest of over 200 million Nigerians before he grants the request for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
AGF Malami stated this on Tuesday as a guest on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria Show.
Recall that some respected Igbo elders led by Minister of Aviation in the First Republic, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, visited the President in Aso Rock and requested the unconditional release of the detained secessionist leader.
During the visit on November 19, 2021, Buhari had told them he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their demand though ‘a heavy one’.
Earlier, on November 10, 2021, Malami had also said a political solution cannot be ruled out to resolve the crisis surrounding separatist agitations in Nigeria but later made a U-turn and said the option is not on the table yet.
On the request by the Igbo leaders concerning Nnamdi Kanu, the AGF said Buhari would consider the interest of over 200 million Nigerians before he takes any decision on such request.
The AGF said: “By way of general statements to the two issues presented: the issue relating to electoral bill and the issue relating to Kanu and by extension, IPOB, what I can tell you for certain is that the decision of the President is based fundamentally and at all times on public interest consideration.
“In the art of governance and what I have come to learn about the mind and heart of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, is to consider the 200 million as against the limited people.
“By extension, the issue of Kanu, what would as well govern the decision of the President in terms of whatever request is presented is the public interest as against limited sectional interest of it.”