Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has explained why the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is flouting court orders regarding release of former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) and leader/founder of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, widely known as Shi’ite, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Mohammed said the government flouts court orders in the interest of national security.
The minister said this while featuring on Osasu show.
Responding to a question on why Dasuki and El-Zakzaky have continued to remain in detention, Mohammed said the judiciary does not have the entire picture on the cases.
Mohammed said, “Every government will balance national security with human rights; every country in the world. It is the level of the balancing.
“As a government, I will balance national security against human rights; and then I will take a decision. Because there is security, there is stability, that the courts also exist.
“What I am saying (is) that the court has ruled but the court does not have the entire picture when it comes to national security. I am a lawyer too, therefore I have utmost respect for the judiciary”.
The Minister stressed that Nigerians cannot pick one or two cases and conclude that the Buhari government is a government of impunity.
“You cant pick two, three cases which bother on national security to condemn a whole government and say this government is a government of impunity.
“How many cases are determined daily in Nigeria? I still say every government has that right to balance national security”, he said.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that there has been several court rulings ordering the release of both Dasuki and El-Zakzaky from detention.