The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), on Tuesday, disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the power to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Kanu is currently facing charges bordering on treason at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He was arrested in June while on a visit to Kenya.
Igbo leaders led by First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi had visited the president to request that he release Kanu.
Responding, President Buhari said that the request of the leaders runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary.
He added that their demand was heavy but he will consider it nonetheless.
In a chat with Daily Independent newspaper in Abuja, Keyamo said that since the matter is already in court, ordering Kanu’s release will amount to inferring with Judicial process by the president.
He added that it is illogical that Nigerians who are vehement about the independence of the judiciary will be urging the president to interfere with a case that is already in court.
According to Keyamo, “The president has no power to release him. Is he in the judiciary? On the one hand, people say there should be independence of the judiciary, on the other hand, they are saying the president should intervene in the judicial process. So, what do Nigerians want?
“On the other hand, when there is a small indication that executive is interfering in judicial matters, the whole country will go up in flames because at that point, they will feel that because of their political interest, the president is trying to intervene and promote one political interest over another.
“Now, being a respecter for the rule of law, the president has allowed the judicial process to go on and yet, people are still complaining and going to him to interfere. I don’t understand. There is a matter in court. You can’t tell the president to go and intervene in the judicial process”.
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