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.
The Nigerian leader's comment has attaracted interests from human right organisations who are keenly watching especially, Human Rights Watch. Its executive director reacted with this tweet after Buhari's comments on detaining Nnamdi Kanu and Dasuki despite court orders that they should released if their bail conditions are met
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