Nigeria’s government will not release two prominent
detainees despite several court orders for their
release, and will not comment on the situation of a
third, wounded detainee, President Muhammadu
Buhari said Wednesday
.
Buhari, a former military dictator who calls himself
a born-again democrat, did not discuss the
propriety of defying court orders when he spoke on
national TV.
“If you see the atrocities these people committed
against this country!” Buhari said in justification.
“We can’t allow them to jump bail.”
A Federal High Court set no bail conditions and
ordered the unconditional release of Biafra
separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu on Dec. 17. Kanu
was detained Oct. 17 on charges recently escalated
to terrorism and financing terrorism. His cause led
to a civil war that killed 1 million people in the
1960s.
Former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki was
detained Nov. 4 after intelligence agents surrounded
his home for days to prevent him from leaving the
country after a court allowed him bail to seek
medical care abroad.
Dasuki is accused, among other things, of diverting
$2.2 billion meant to buy arms to fight the Boko
Haram Islamic uprising. Three courts have ordered
his release on bail.
“What of the over two million people displaced,
most of them orphans whose fathers have been
killed?” Buhari asked. “We cannot allow that.”
He refused to discuss the situation of Shiite leader
Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was detained with four
bullet wounds Dec. 14 in military raids that
allegedly killed hundreds of his followers.
The army said the raids and bulldozing of
Zakzaky’s home and Shiite spiritual centers was a
response to an alleged Shiite attempt to
assassinate Nigeria’s army chief. Human Rights
Watch has said the raid was unprovoked.
Authorities have refused to allow anyone to see
Zakzaky.
Buhari said he would not comment until an
detainees despite several court orders for their
release, and will not comment on the situation of a
third, wounded detainee, President Muhammadu
Buhari said Wednesday
.
Buhari, a former military dictator who calls himself
a born-again democrat, did not discuss the
propriety of defying court orders when he spoke on
national TV.
“If you see the atrocities these people committed
against this country!” Buhari said in justification.
“We can’t allow them to jump bail.”
A Federal High Court set no bail conditions and
ordered the unconditional release of Biafra
separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu on Dec. 17. Kanu
was detained Oct. 17 on charges recently escalated
to terrorism and financing terrorism. His cause led
to a civil war that killed 1 million people in the
1960s.
Former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki was
detained Nov. 4 after intelligence agents surrounded
his home for days to prevent him from leaving the
country after a court allowed him bail to seek
medical care abroad.
Dasuki is accused, among other things, of diverting
$2.2 billion meant to buy arms to fight the Boko
Haram Islamic uprising. Three courts have ordered
his release on bail.
“What of the over two million people displaced,
most of them orphans whose fathers have been
killed?” Buhari asked. “We cannot allow that.”
He refused to discuss the situation of Shiite leader
Ibraheem Zakzaky, who was detained with four
bullet wounds Dec. 14 in military raids that
allegedly killed hundreds of his followers.
The army said the raids and bulldozing of
Zakzaky’s home and Shiite spiritual centers was a
response to an alleged Shiite attempt to
assassinate Nigeria’s army chief. Human Rights
Watch has said the raid was unprovoked.
Authorities have refused to allow anyone to see
Zakzaky.
Buhari said he would not comment until an
investigation is complete.
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