From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South East geopolitical zone, has condemned the verdict of Justice Binta Njako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, denying Mazi Nnamdi Kanu bail and adjourning his trial to November 14.
While describing the verdict as inhuman and injustice against Kanu’s rights, the youth groups have also alleged President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent speech during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Britain, Boris Johnson influenced the judges’ decision.
President General of the Igbo youths Goodluck Ibem, in a statement he made available to reporters on Tuesday, stated:
“The verdict of Justice Binta Njako is the same statement made by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday 23 June 2022 during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kagali, Rwanda, where the President Buhari told the PM Johnson ” remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again if he’s admitted to bail?”.
“President Buhari even went further to say he was arrested based on the things he said against his person, meaning that the entire exercise is a gross personal vendetta.
“When did the statement of the President become the verdict or judgement of the court?. Are we running a democratic government or a Unitary system of government were only one man determines the fate of millions of Nigerians even when it is unconstitutional, undemocratic and inhuman.
“The Presidential system of government which we are practicing in Nigeria and enshrined in our constitution made it explicitly clear that the is separation of powers between the three arms of government which are the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature. No arm is higher in authority than the other. The three arms of government have equal rights and no other arm can dictate to the other.
“But what we saw today in court in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu shows that President Buhari now dictates the verdict of the court.
“Our hard-earned democracy brought to us by our founding fathers has been reduced to nothing with what we are saw today.
“The Judiciary all over the world is the last hope of the common man, but what happened in court today where the statement of President Buhari made some days ago in Kigali, Kwanda to suddenly become the verdict of the court in a supposed democracy leaves much to be desired.
“Indeed our democracy has been battered and destroyed through the Judge who is meant to uphold the law no matter whose ox is gored.
“For the records, Nnamdi Kanu did not jump bail, he only left to stay alive when the Nigerian army came to his house to kill him and his entire household. Over 70 Igbo youths were killed on that day the Nigerian military invaded his house. The law of self-preservation permits him to do whatever he can to stay alive. He did not jump bail.
“Injustice to one is injustice to all. The verdict denying Nnamdi Kanu’s bail application today is injustice to all Nigerians and the world at large.
“We call on the international community, the United Nations and all lovers of democracy and justice to come to the aid of Nigerians whose hard earn democracy is now on the balance.
“The denial of Nnamdi Kanu’s bail and adjournment of his case by Justice Binta Njako to November 14, 2022 despite his presence ill-health even when he is constitutional guaranteed to be granted bail is inhuman and grossly against his fundamental human right to life.
“The present health condition of Nnamdi Kanu is life-threatening and it is his fundamental human right to be granted bail in other to take care of his health.”