ABUJA RULE OF LAW| Buhari The “Reformed Democrat” Wont Release Detainees Despite Court Order

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government will not release Nnamdi Kanu and Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) despite several court orders for their release, and will not comment on the situation of a wounded detainee, Sheik Ibrahim El Zakzaky.

President 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 during his first media chat.

“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 who was detained on  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 El-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 El -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.

Nigerian Authorities have refused to allow anyone to see El- Zakzaky.

Buhari said he would not comment until an investigation by the Kaduna State Government is complete.