44 Reps Members Write Tinubu, Demand Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

No fewer than 44 members of the House of Representatives have urged President Bola  Tinubu to halt the ongoing legal proceedings against the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and instead, explore political options to resolve the matter.

The Source reports that the Federal Government has, since 2021, been prosecuting Kanu on terrorism related charges after his rendition from Kenya.

The trial which is presently before Justice James Omotosho of an Abuja Federal High Court, had, before now,  passed through a couple of other Judges , including Justice Binta Nyako.

The Federal Lawmakers, in a letter addressed to the President,  appealed to him to invoke his constitutional powers and direct the discontinuation of  Kanu’s trial and his release.

According to the Legislators who cut across ethnic and party lines, the release of the IPOB leader will be a suiting balm of sort, as it will herald peace and stability in the restive South East region which has been the epicentre of agitations, violence and mass killings.

The House of Representatives members under the aegis of  Concerned Federal Lawmakers for National Unity,and who are  being coordinated by the member representing Ideato North Federal Constituency, Hon Ikenga Imo, noted that the continued trial and detention of Kanu have become a major stumbling block to peace-buiding efforts in the South East region.

In the two page letter, the forty-four concerned legislators insisted that the release of Kanu holds the key to the restoration of normalcy in the South East region which has suffered untold security challenges and violence since the arrest and trial of the IPOB began.

According to them, the release of Kanu Will open the door for a meaningful dialogue which will ultimately usher in lasting peace and stability.

The Lawmakers while pointing out some earlier court judgments both local and international that had favoured the release of Kanu, noted that their call for the freedom of the IPOB leader is in  tandem with popular thinking among many people in the country.

“Driven by the urgent need for national healing ,and noting the Federal Government’s negotiations with other agitating groups across the country, we respectively urge Mr President to direct the Attorney General to exercise his constitutional powers and discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu” the Federal Lawmakers stated.