Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation, has blasted Kelechi Amadi, the Solicitor-General of Alberta in Canada, for faulting the re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), insisting the act followed stipulated international processes.
Malami said this in a statement issued by Umar Gwandu, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, on Wednesday while responding to comments made by Madu on the development.
Kanu, who jumped bail in 2017, was re-arrested and subsequently repatriated to Nigeria on 27 June “through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services”, according to Malami.
The Federal Government has, however, remained silent over the location where the separatist leader was arrested.
However, the Nigerian-born Madu who now practices in Canada condemned the re-arrest and repatriation, saying it was conducted against international statutes and conventions.
The Canadian official also blasted Malami and questioned his qualification and suitability as the AGF.
But reacting, Malami described Madu as “an ignoramus” for Describing the re-arrest and repatriation of the IPOB leader as illegal, saying that the process and the action carried out by the Nigerian government was “internationally recognised”.
According to the AGF, a bench warrant was lawfully obtained from a recognised court of law.
The statement read: “Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has described the ideas attributed to one Kelechi Madu as outrageously ignoramus opinions that are eccentric and weird to the legal profession.
“It is unfortunate for someone who claims to be a lawyer of a status of a Solicitor General of a provincial State of Alberta in Canada to fault the internationally recognized manner through which Nnamdi Kanu who jumped bail was re-arrested and brought back to face trial.
“It was abundantly clear that bench warrant was lawfully and judiciously procured through judicial process by a competent court of law, whose bail condition Nnamdi Kanu breached with impunity. There was no illegality in the entire process and the question of illegality does not even arise.
“It is a common principle of the law that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”
Malami questioned Madu as to why never spoke up when Kanu was allegedly inciting violence against Nigeria.
The statement read: “Where was the so-called Madu when Nnamdi Kanu was inciting violence against the country? Why, as a lawyer, would Madu support a fugitive who jumped bail and accused of terrorism and treasonable felony? What stopped Madu from voicing out dissent on the atrocities of Kanu and their group?” he asked.
The AGF reminded Madu that both Nigeria (his country of birth) and Canada, where he practises law, are signatories to the Multinational Treaty Agreement where, among others, fugitive fleeing justice in nations with the similar agreement could be brought back to face justice.
Malami urged the Canadian public officer to go back to educate himself in matters of the law, adding that Madu only left for Canada after failing to succeed in Nigeria.
“As the saying goes ‘an empty vessel makes the loudest noise’. We advise the so-called ‘learned man’ to shelve his arrogance and learn to study the law books before opening his mouth to disgrace himself before the right-thinking members of the society thereby attracting to himself criticism that may propel doubt about his suitability for the job he claims to be doing now, after moving out of his country of origin in which he fails to excel,” the AGF said.
Kanu jumped bail in 2017 and left the country, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.
He is facing 11 charges bordering on terrorism and other crimes.
He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27.
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