Aloy Ejimakor, a counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has disclosed that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has the power to release his client.
In a post on his Twitter handle, Ejimakor stated that Malami is empowered by law to discontinue any legal proceedings he initiated.
Citing Section 174 of the Nigerian constitution, the IPOB lawyer maintained that the Executive and not the Judiciary has the power to release Nnamdi Kanu.
Ejimakor wrote: “Sec. 174 of the Constitution says: ‘The Attorney General of Nigeria shall have the power to DISCONTINUE any criminal proceedings instituted by him.
“The UNCONDITIONAL release of #NnamdiKanu lies with the Executive, NOT the Judiciary.”
Naija News reports that there have been calls by Southeast governors, traditional rulers and leaders in the region on President Muhammadu Buhari to release the Biafra activist.
Some Igbo leaders had last week met with the President to ask for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and other pro-Biafra activists.
Buhari had during the meeting promised to consider their request, although he described what they are asking him to do as too ‘heavy’.
According the president, ordering the release of the IPOB leader would go against the doctrine of separation of powers as Nnamdi Kanu’s case is now before the judiciary.
