Malami says Public Interest Will Decide Kanu’s Release

05 Jan Malami says Public Interest Will Decide Kanu’s Release

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday said public interest will determine President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on the request for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Some Igbo elders led by Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, had on November 19, 2021, visited the President in Aso Rock and requested the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.

Buhari had said he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their demand, though “a heavy one.”

But Malami, who spoke on Tuesday as a guest on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria Show, said public interest will determine the President’s decision on the request.

The Minister also said the President considered public interest as against the interest of sectional groups when he refused to assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill.

“By way of general statements to the two issues presented: the issue relating to electoral bills 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, 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”, the AGF said.