The Federal Government has explained why it has not arrested the
architects of the Coalition of Northern Youths’ quit notice issued
to the Igbo living in the North.
The explanation came on the heels of calls by United Nations
(UN) experts for the arrest of those behind the June 6 quit
notice.
It also came on a day the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)
lashed out at the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over the pan-North
group’s warnings to Ohanaeze Ndi’ Igbo, a pro-East
organisation.
At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, Attorney-General of the
Federation & Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) said
they did not go after sponsors of the quit notice due to the
“security implications”, adding that the Federal Government was
being strategic in handle the issue.
He said: “The way the government works is that a lot of
considerations naturally come into play. One is investigation,
which is not time-bound; two, security consideration; three,
expeditious determination and consideration of public interest.
“But one thing that is certain is that the government is ever
alive to its responsibilities and whoever is found wanting,
regardless of the length of time, will definitely be brought to
book.
“That is the way it works. I assure you that the government
will, within the context of its responsibilities, work to ensure
good governance, justice, peace and fairness in the nation.”
The Northern youths have withdrawn the quit notice on the Igbo
to vacate the North on October 1.
Their spokesman, AbdulAziz Suleiman, said the withdrawal was as
a result of consultations and pressure from various groups.
Also yesterday, the IPOB, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful,
warned the Federal Government against re-arresting its leader,
Nnamdi Kanu.
It said doing so will have dire consequences.
The IPOB spokesman was reacting to what it called an attack on
the Ohanaeze. Some ACF elders had berated the Ohanaeze leaders for
trivialising a criminal matter.
According to Powerful, Kanu has not committed any crime that
could warrant his rearrest.
He said: “If Nigeria ever had a case against our leader, why
have the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) not commenced the
trial since October 2015 when our leader was first arrested?
“Instead, the Arewa North thought they could intimidate this
present Ohaneze Ndigbo as they did to previous executives, into
allowing Nnamdi Kanu to be arrested.
“The idea of wanting to use baseless trumped up charges to
justify the extra-judicial detention of Kanu will be resisted by
all men and women of good conscience.”
The UN human rights experts called for the prosecution of those
behind the ultimatum issued to the Igbo.
The experts, Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary
Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance; Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on Minority
Issues and Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination, described the ultimatum as a
“grave concern”.
They also deplored a hate song and audio message being
circulated on the internet and on the social media targeting the
Igbo.
The UN experts said: “We are gravely concerned about this
proliferation of hate messages and incitement to violence against
the Igbo and their property, especially considering the previous
history of such violence.
“The government must be vigilant, as hate speech and incitement
can endanger social cohesion and threaten peace by deepening the
existing tensions between Nigeria’s ethnic communities.”
The human rights crusaders said that though some local and
national figures, as well as some media representatives had
publicly denounced any form of hate speech and incitement, other
officials still needed to follow suit.
They added: “We are deeply concerned that some prominent local
leaders and elders have not condemned the ultimatum, hate speech
and the perpetrators.
“We call on the government, media and civil society
representatives, and local and religious leaders, to reject and
condemn hate speech and incitement to violence unequivocally and in
the strongest possible terms.”
The UN experts said any incidents of hate speech and incitement
to violence had to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted
and punished.
“This includes the people behind the ultimatum and those
responsible for the creation, publication and circulation of the
hate song and audio message,” they added.
The Federal Government has explained why it has not arrested the
architects of the Coalition of Northern Youths’ quit notice issued
to the Igbo living in the North.
The explanation came on the heels of calls by United Nations
(UN) experts for the arrest of those behind the June 6 quit
notice.
It also came on a day the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)
lashed out at the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over the pan-North
group’s warnings to Ohanaeze Ndi’ Igbo, a pro-East
organisation.
At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, Attorney-General of the
Federation & Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) said
they did not go after sponsors of the quit notice due to the
“security implications”, adding that the Federal Government was
being strategic in handle the issue.
He said: “The way the government works is that a lot of
considerations naturally come into play. One is investigation,
which is not time-bound; two, security consideration; three,
expeditious determination and consideration of public interest.
“But one thing that is certain is that the government is ever
alive to its responsibilities and whoever is found wanting,
regardless of the length of time, will definitely be brought to
book.
“That is the way it works. I assure you that the government
will, within the context of its responsibilities, work to ensure
good governance, justice, peace and fairness in the nation.”
The Northern youths have withdrawn the quit notice on the Igbo
to vacate the North on October 1.
Their spokesman, AbdulAziz Suleiman, said the withdrawal was as
a result of consultations and pressure from various groups.
Also yesterday, the IPOB, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful,
warned the Federal Government against re-arresting its leader,
Nnamdi Kanu.
It said doing so will have dire consequences.
The IPOB spokesman was reacting to what it called an attack on
the Ohanaeze. Some ACF elders had berated the Ohanaeze leaders for
trivialising a criminal matter.
According to Powerful, Kanu has not committed any crime that
could warrant his rearrest.
He said: “If Nigeria ever had a case against our leader, why
have the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) not commenced the
trial since October 2015 when our leader was first arrested?
“Instead, the Arewa North thought they could intimidate this
present Ohaneze Ndigbo as they did to previous executives, into
allowing Nnamdi Kanu to be arrested.
“The idea of wanting to use baseless trumped up charges to
justify the extra-judicial detention of Kanu will be resisted by
all men and women of good conscience.”
The UN human rights experts called for the prosecution of those
behind the ultimatum issued to the Igbo.
The experts, Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on Contemporary
Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance; Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on Minority
Issues and Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination, described the ultimatum as a
“grave concern”.
They also deplored a hate song and audio message being
circulated on the internet and on the social media targeting the
Igbo.
The UN experts said: “We are gravely concerned about this
proliferation of hate messages and incitement to violence against
the Igbo and their property, especially considering the previous
history of such violence.
“The government must be vigilant, as hate speech and incitement
can endanger social cohesion and threaten peace by deepening the
existing tensions between Nigeria’s ethnic communities.”
The human rights crusaders said that though some local and
national figures, as well as some media representatives had
publicly denounced any form of hate speech and incitement, other
officials still needed to follow suit.
They added: “We are deeply concerned that some prominent local
leaders and elders have not condemned the ultimatum, hate speech
and the perpetrators.
“We call on the government, media and civil society
representatives, and local and religious leaders, to reject and
condemn hate speech and incitement to violence unequivocally and in
the strongest possible terms.”
The UN experts said any incidents of hate speech and incitement
to violence had to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted
and punished.
“This includes the people behind the ultimatum and those
responsible for the creation, publication and circulation of the
hate song and audio message,” they added.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/igbo-quit-notice-why-we-havent-arrested-arewa-youths-by-fed-govt/