The National Security Council has said that detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has been acquitted but not discharged despite the judgement of the appellate court.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi said this after a meeting of the NSC on Friday.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the police affairs chief disclosed that a political solution was not discussed at the council. He said the discussion centred on the court judgment.

The council, according to him, is therefore considering an appropriate action to take on the matter and would notify Nigerians of its final position.

The Council’s move gives backing to a statement by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, shortly after the appeal court verdict to free Kanu.

“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement signed by Malami’s spokesperson, Dr. Umar Jibril Gwandu, said

“For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted. Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.

“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition. Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predate rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.

“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”

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