The Federal Government has described the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as a threat to national security and “a flight risk person.”
It said that Kanu could flee the country before the determination of its appeal at the Supreme Court if released as directed by the court on October 13.
Regardless, the IPOB leader’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, countered the application, saying it amounted to contempt of court.
Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) added that since the government had complied with the October 13 judgment, it had no valid appeal before the apex court.
The government is asking through the application/motion for a stay of execution of the order by the appeal court for the release of Kanu.
A lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, David Kaswe, said that Kanu should remain in detention pending the resolution of the appeal at the Supreme Court.
Kaswe said: “The application/motion was brought in the interest of justice and to preserve the security in the Southeast and the country.
“We have demonstrated that the respondent (Kanu) is a flight risk. If the judgment does not stay until our appeal is heard and determined by the Supreme Court, it will be difficult for us to lay our hands on the respondent to bring him back to court to face the charge against him.
“The respondent has shown that he can jump bail.”
