Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged President Bola Tinubu to free Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following exactly four years since his arrest in Nairobi and controversial rendition to Nigeria. The appeal, delivered on Friday, June 28, via the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu in Enugu, stressed that continued incarceration without trial undermines justice.
According to Chukwu, Kanu’s detention is not only unlawful but an “unacceptable moral burden on the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system.” He pointed to a June 24 ruling by the Kenyan High Court declaring Kanu’s rendition illegal under both Kenyan and international law, reinforcing allegations of state overreach.
Nnamdi Kanu was first apprehended by Kenyan authorities on June 27, 2021, and extradited to Nigeria shortly after. He was arraigned in Abuja on June 29 on charges including terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement to violence—a process that critics argue lacked transparency and provable evidence.
Ohanaeze highlighted ongoing concerns that his trial has stalled, with no trial date set four years on. They argue that Kanu’s case transcends legal debate—it tests the nation’s commitment to rule of law, human rights, and fair justice for all, regardless of ethnicity or political profile.
The group called on President Tinubu to use his constitutional powers and международные дипломатические каналы to obtain Kanu’s release—stressing that a political resolution, rather than a drawn-out legal battle, would better serve national unity. Ohanaeze references similar interventions for other high-profile detainees as precedent.
IPOB has applauded the Kenyan court’s ruling, calling it a “judicial earthquake” that exposed the flawed process behind Kanu’s transfer. Traditional rulers in Southeast Nigeria have also rallied behind the call for release, further boosting public pressure on the federal government.
With international attention mounting and his detention now marking a significant milestone for contested legal proceedings, all eyes are now on the presidency. Will Tinubu respond decisively to restore credibility, or will Kanu remain a lightning rod for national divisions?
