By Milcah Tanimu
A delegation of Southeast Senators has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Led by former Abia State Deputy Governor and senior senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the 15 senators met with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to stress the urgency of Kanu’s release. They argued that his detention has severely impacted social and economic activities in the Southeast region.
Following the closed-door meeting, Abaribe spoke on behalf of his colleagues, expressing concerns about the worsening economic and social conditions in the Southeast, which he attributed to Kanu’s ongoing incarceration. He noted that Kanu’s initially peaceful agitation has been hijacked by criminals, resulting in increased violence and the loss of lives, including those of security personnel.
Abaribe revealed that he had met with Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja, where Kanu agreed to adhere to any conditions set for his release. The senator expressed confidence that Kanu’s release would help restore peace and stability in the Southeast, which has been troubled since Kanu’s detention in 2021.
The senators urged the Attorney General to convey their request to President Tinubu and to use his influence to drop the charges against Kanu. Abaribe highlighted that political leaders, religious figures, and other stakeholders in the Southeast unanimously support Kanu’s release as a necessary step towards peace.
Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and brought back to Nigeria to face terrorism charges. Despite pleading not guilty, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja denied him bail, citing his previous bail jump for which Abaribe had been his surety. Kanu has remained in DSS custody since then.
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