The Federal Government has explained why it is unable to comply with a court order ordering the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The government told the Abuja Appeal Court that Kanu was a flight risk and a threat to national security.
David Kaswe, an Assistant State Counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, informed the court that the case against Kanu threatened national security.
He argued that the IPOB leader’s fundamental rights should be suspended in the interests of national security.
Kaswe said: “It is important to appreciate the gamut of depositions in our application. The Respondent is a flight risk person and one of the grounds of our application is that this matter touches on national security of the State.
“Once there is a threat to national security, human rights of any individual can be suspended until such threat is taken care of.”
Kaswe also informed the court that releasing Kanu would exacerbate the South East’s security situation.
“The defendant has shown that he has the capacity to jump bail or to escape from lawful custody.
“There is reasonable intelligence that the enforcement of judgement of this court, pending determination of our appeal at the Supreme Court, may impact negatively on the declining security in the South East,” he said.
Kanu was discharged and acquitted of all terrorism charges by the Appeal Court a few weeks ago.
The Federal Government has refused to release the IPOB leader despite the court’s ruling.
Kanu cannot be released because the AGF, Abubakar Malami, has hinted that more charges will be leveled against him.
Kanu has been imprisoned by the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021.
In Kenya, he was apprehended and subjected to extraordinary rendition.
Upon his return, the Federal Government arraigned him on terrorism-related charges.
The IPOB leader was arrested for the first time in 2017 as a result of his advocacy for Biafra’s independence.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail.
Kanu fled the country to Europe shortly after his release, where he continued his Biafra agitation.