The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN on Wednesday said that the trial of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently facing treasonous charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja will continue.
Speaking on a Channels Television programme ‘ Politics Today’ Malami said the issue of pardon or out of court settlement is not on the table for now.
Speaking on the request by some Igbo leaders that President Muhammadu Buhari should release the IPOB leader, Malami said Kanu can only be pardoned after he may have been convicted.
He said, “Pardon is a function of conviction in the Nigerian context and as far as I know, Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted yet”.
“So, the idea of pardoning him is premature, against the background of the fact that the trial associated with him has not been concluded. But one thing that I can tell you clearly is that he is standing trial and the trial continues as at today”.
When asked if he believed that a political solution will help douse the tension in the country, Malami said” “I am not ruling out any possibility but that is not immediately on the table. I have not accessed the implication of that in terms of being a solution or a problem.
“As a human and as attorney general of the federation, my reasoning, thinking and thoughts are regulated by the public interests. So, it is the public interest that will guide and influence my decision.
“As to the possibility of accommodating the out of court settlement, one thing I can tell you clearly is that settlement is not right now on the table. it is a bridge that I like enjoy crossing when I get to it.”
