Nnamdi Kanu ready to abide by ‘any condition’ to get freedom

The push for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu got more intense yesterday.

A day after Southeast governors resolved to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demand Kanu’s release, some Senators from the region met with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

They urged him to enter a nolle-prosequi in Kanu’s case as a way of ending the tension and tackling insecurity in the Southeast.

The lawmakers were led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who said the meeting was to explore an out-of-court settlement in the Kanu case.

He said the visiting Senators handed a letter to the AGF for delivery to President Tinubu conveying their request.

Abaribe lamented that the economy and social lives in the Southeast have continued to be negatively impacted by the Kanu case and his incarceration.

He said the peaceful and legitimate demand by Kanu has been hijacked by hoodlums and hardened criminals, resulting in wanton killings of innocent people, including security operatives.

The lawmaker said he met with Kanu on Monday at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, adding that the IPOB leader agreed to abide by any condition set for his release.

Abaribe was optimistic that once Kanu is released, the tension and troubles that have engulfed the Southeast geo-political zone since 2021 when Kanu was taken into custody would abate.

He urged the AGF to convey their message to President Tinubu and for the AGF to use his position to terminate all charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government.

Abaribe said virtually all political and religious leaders, including other stakeholders in the Southeast, have unanimously agreed that Kanu be released for peace to return to the geo-political zone.

The Senator said: “On behalf of the caucus, I met with Kanu on Monday and he is very supportive of this our plea to the President.

“The 15 Southeast Senators signed the letter.

“The Senators, governors, clergy, business and traditional rulers are willing to stand surety for him.

“He has also assured me that he is ready to fulfil any condition that will lead to his early release.

“The AGF received us very warmly and promised to digest our request and take it to the President, who will make the ultimate decision.”

Also yesterday, the Southeast caucus of the House of Representatives appealed to President Tinubu to consider releasing Kanu.

The 43 lawmakers said they were in support of the out-of-court settlement being discussed between the lawyers of the detained IPOB leader and the prosecution.

Their demand is contained in a statement signed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi; leader of the caucus Enwo Igariwey; Deputy Leader Nnolim Nnaji and Secretary Miriam Onuoha.

The statement was also endorsed by all the lawmakers from the zone, irrespective of their political affiliation.

The statement reads in part: “As a Caucus of the House of Representatives from where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hails, we have taken liberty, in consonance with parliamentary practice, to seek the support of other regional caucuses of the House of Representatives, to achieve a quick and responsible resolution of the seemingly intractable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case, a legal impasse that is undoubtedly the missing puzzle in solving the lingering security conundrum in the Southeast of Nigeria.

“We, therefore, as Representatives of the five Southeast states in the House of Representatives, urge Mr President, to consider the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.

“We are convinced that a political settlement of this matter by way of an out-of-court settlement, as canvassed before Justice Binta Nyako, is the quickest, most effective, and honourable way of closing this difficult and painful chapter of our national history.”

Kanu’s kinsmen also joined the call for his release.

Youths of the Ibeku ancient kingdom in Umuahia, Abia State and kinsmen of Kanu urged President Tinubu to free him.

The youths, in a letter to President Tinubu, regretted that Kanu’s agitation for equity and fairness for all was misconstrued.

They believe Kanu’s continued detention despite previous court orders for his release is the major cause of tension and insecurity in the Southeast.

In a communique after an emergency meeting at their secretariat, Isieke Ibeku, the youths argued that Kanu was not a terrorist but only worried about the perennial injustice against his people and was crying for equity.

The communique was signed by their National President, Martins Chiedozie Nwosu; and Secretary, Chibuzor Onwukamuche.

It reads in part: “Our brother Mazi Kanu only stood for truth, equity and justice for the Igbo tribe and the Eastern part of Nigeria, just like Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

“Hence, his incarceration has become unbearable to us his kinsmen and brothers; knowing full well the catastrophe, instability and insecurity that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention has brought to the Eastern part of Nigeria.”

In a separate letter to the President dated July 1, the youths wrote: “We hold this strong opinion that Mazi Kanu meant well for the Eastern part of Nigeria, Southern part of Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole.

“He took up the responsibility to agitate for equity and justice, and inclusion of the Easterners and Southerners in the affairs of Nigeria, in the guise of agitation for Biafra.

“The then government of Nigeria failed to address the root cause of the agitation, misconstrued the essence of the agitation, and hastily proscribed the peaceful and non-violent group led by Mazi Kanu…”

Source: The Nation