Ohanaeze urges FG to release Nnamdi Kanu after spending over 1,100 days in detention

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, has been held in the Department of State Services detention for at least 1,133 days, as confirmed by NewsNow.

Kanu was apprehended on June 27, 2021, in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria. He is currently facing charges related to terrorism, treasonable offenses, and incitement of violence through his Radio Biafra broadcasts.

Despite Interpol publicly denying involvement in Kanu’s arrest, the Nigerian government claimed collaboration with the international police agency in apprehending the separatist leader.

Kanu’s arrest triggered significant unrest among Biafran separatists and their supporters, particularly in the South-East region, leading to the initiation of the Monday sit-at-home protest.

In 2021, the World Igbo Congress denounced Kanu’s arrest as an “illegal abduction and international gangsterism.”

During his arraignment on June 29, 2021, Kanu reiterated that his departure from Nigeria in 2017 was a result of military actions against him, citing violations of his rights as the reason.

The then-Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), informed journalists that Kanu was arrested and repatriated to Nigeria on a Sunday.

Kanu is currently facing charges of treasonable offenses at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, along with allegations of unlawful possession of firearms and involvement in an illegal society.

Malami described Kanu’s arrest as a collaborative effort between Nigerian security agencies and Interpol.

On July 26, 2021, Kanu appeared in court where the judge ordered his detention at the Department of State Services facility.

The trial commenced in October 2021, with Kanu facing charges of terrorism, treason, association with a banned separatist group, incitement of public violence through radio broadcasts, and defamation of Nigerian authorities, to which he pleaded not guilty.

At a subsequent hearing on November 10, 2021, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, staged a walkout in protest over alleged restrictions preventing other members of the defense team from accessing the courtroom.

Following these events, the case was adjourned until January 19 and 20, 2022.

Justice Benson Anya of the Abia State High Court, on January 19, 2022, ruled that Kanu’s 2017 arrest was unlawful, constituting a violation of his human rights and termed his abduction and return to Nigeria as “illegal” under both local and international laws.

Despite this ruling, Kanu remained in custody as discussions on the other charges continued, and additional charges were added by the prosecution.

In a significant development on October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the 15-count terrorism charges against Kanu filed by the Federal Government.

The appellate court, led by Justice Jummai Hanatu, acquitted Kanu of all allegations and ordered his release, but he was not released and remained in custody.

However, on December 15, 2023, Nigeria’s Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s ruling, dismissing the terrorism charges against Kanu and affirming that he still faces these charges despite earlier acquittal.

Justice Garba Mohammed noted that while there were violations of Kanu’s rights during his arrest and extradition, the Court of Appeal erred in using this as grounds for dismissing the charges.

Several public figures and senators have called for a political solution, urging President Bola Tinubu to consider releasing Kanu, particularly in light of claims by his lawyers regarding his deteriorating health while in DSS custody.

Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, clarified that Kanu himself never requested a political solution but indicated openness to discussions on the matter when prompted during a court session.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, representing the Igbo people, has repeatedly appealed for Kanu’s unconditional release, citing potential peace and stability in the South-East region as a result.

Former President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, before his passing, implored Tinubu to release Kanu, stating that such a decision would demonstrate leadership sensitivity to the concerns of the Igbo community in Nigeria.

The group’s spokesperson, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, emphasized the positive impact of Kanu’s release on regional security and the happiness it would bring to the Igbo populace.

Efforts to contact Nigeria’s Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, and Adegboyega Awomolo for comments were unsuccessful as their offices did not respond to inquiries made at the time of reporting.