• Says Tinubu’s administration faced 625 court cases in 12 months
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has said that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu was being held under the rule of law and will not be released until the decision of the court.
The AGF, who said he does not know Nnamdi Kanu personally, explained that the case of Omoyele Sowore who was earlier released by the Federal Government and that of the IPOB leader are not the same.
Fagbemi spoke at the second day of the Ministerial Sectoral Updates, a media event organised to mark the first year of President Bola Tinubu in office. Asked why the likes of Omoyele Sowore and Sunday Igboho were released while Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services, the Minister said, “Nnamdi Kanu and Sowore’s case are not the same. If I see Sowore, I don’t know him, if I see Nnamdi Kanu, I don’t know him. So, Nnamdi Kanu is being held under the rule of law and the court.
“Let’s wait for the decision of the court. No one will be held outside the laws of the country.” The AGF disclosed that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration faced a total of 625 court cases in the past 12 months.
He said the ministry had after it was served with copies of the suits, responded accordingly, stressing that effective justice system is measured not only by the number of cases that were successfully disposed of, but by strategic measures that were adopted to avoid litigation.
According to the AGF, using a combination of effective defence strategies to cases, arbitration, mediation and diligent prosecution of appeal cases, the Ministry succeeded in saving the country from huge debt liabilities. He said: “In the reporting period, a total of 625 cases instituted against the President, Federal Government and its agencies, before states, federal and ECOWAS Court were served and responded by the ministry.
The ministry also received and treated 593 requests for legal advice and Petitions from May 2023 till date.
“In all, the ministry obtained 235 judgements from May, 2023 to date,” he added.