President Muhammadu Buhari last night justified the continued detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and leader of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
He said those who committed serious crimes against the country cannot be granted temporary freedom because they could jump bail.
Speaking during his maiden “Presidential Media Chat” on television, Buhari said the severity of the crimes allegedly committed does not permit granting them bail.
“Technically, if you see the type of atrocities these people have committed against the republic, against the country, when you think about it, you can’t allow them to jump bail,” he said.
Apparently referring to Dasuki, he said: “Technically if you see the kinds of atrocities those people committed against the country. If they jump bail, see the former President wrote to the governor of central bank and said give N40bn to so so and so, and then he gives account and you release him to go and see his doctors in London, while about 2 million IDPs who don’t even know their parents; what kind of country is that?
“And the one you are calling Kanu, do you know he had two passports, one Nigerian, one British, and he came into the country without any. Do you know he brought an equipment into this country and was broadcasting, Radio Biafra; which kind of government do you think should harbor that kind of person? There is a treasonable felony against him and and I hope the court will listen to the case.”
On the insurgency and the abducted girls, the President said the Federal Government was open to negotiating with credible leaders of the Boko Haram sect.
He said: “We want to be sure that the girls are complete, safe and sound before we attempt any form of negotiation on the girls. We are still keeping our options open. If a credible leadership of Boko Haram is ready for negotiation without any condition we are ready to listen to them.”