Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has applauded the formation of Legal team by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-Cultural Group from the Southeastern part of the country, to monitor the proceedings at the trial of the self-acclaimed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Minister said this was in line with the doctrine of the right of fair hearing rooted in the Nigerian Constitution.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, ” inherent in the position of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the matter was the demonstration of their recognition of belonging to Nigeria and succumbing to the rule of law while maintaining their stance that they were not averse to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu”
The statement further said that the group showed a mature departure from mindset of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra when Ohanaeze said they “do not support the use of any form of violence” while channeling concerns and presenting demand.
“By urging the youths to be law-abiding and sheath their sword as well as asking them to try to obtain voter’s card to enable them contribute to national development, the position of Ohanaeze becomes glaringly constitutional and commendable”
“Let it be made abundantly clear that President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government respects the rule of law and does not advocate for the breach of law. Hence, with or without the so-called monitoring group, justice will be adequately served to Nnamdi Kanu in compliances with the enshrined provisions of the law” the statement added.
Justice, Abubakar Malami said it was hoped that the unnecessary legal monitoring group would come with open-mind and guided by nothing but the rule of law in the process so as to convey the judgment of the Court as may eventually be delivered to their people in various languages and dialects of their members and the entire Nigerians.
Confidence Okwuchi
