We will not be able to lay hands upon him if he is allowed out of detention and finds his way out of the country.”

By Deborah Hassan 

365Daily – The Federal Government (FG) has told the Court of Appeal that it is resisting the order of the court to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu,  because he constitutes a huge threat to national security.

Speaking at a hearing held at the Abuja Court on Monday, October 24, 2022, the FG’s counsel, David Kaswe, argued that Kanu must be kept in detention in order for the Southeast and the nation in general to have relative peace.

The government added that Kanu was a flight risk who would escape from the country if the judgment which ordered his release was not stayed and urged the court to stay execution of its order pending the resolution of an appeal already filed at the Supreme Court.

Kaswe said: “My Lords, our concerns, the concern of the Federal Government is the threat the release of Kanu poses to the security of this country and its political, social and economic activities. We will not be able to lay hands upon him if he is allowed out of detention and finds his way out of the country.”

He, therefore, prayed the court to stay the execution of the court judgment to enable Kanu remain in custody pending when Supreme Court would finally determine the pending appeal.

However, lead counsel to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), urged the Court to dismiss the request of the FG, saying Kanu only fled Nigeria for safety after the military invaded his ancestral home while he was on bail during his trial at the Federal High Court.

Ozekhome told the court that for failing to comply with the October 13 judgement of the Appeal Court, the Federal Government was in contempt of court and as such, had no moral and legal right to make the request from the same court.

On finding peace in the Southeast, the SAN said that it would be accomplished when his client is released from detention.

“My Lord, the action of the FG in respect of Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court. It is also an invitation to anarchy and I humbly urge this court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit,” he said.

After hearing both parties, the presiding judge, Justice Haruna Tsanami, informed that a date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to them.