The federal government of Nigeria has been urged to immediately release the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
A council of southeast traditional rulers and representatives of Igbo bishops issued the call on Tuesday in response to a recent Appeal Court order that cleared Kanu of the charges brought against him.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the court, in its October 13 ruling, also accused the government of violating international law in the extradition of the IPOB leader from Kenya to Nigeria, declaring the move illegal.
The council urged the federal government to comply immediately based on the court ruling. They argued that releasing the IPOB leader represents an opportunity to restore peace and trust in the region.
The council’s position was expressed in a statement signed by the chairman of the Anambra state traditional rulers council, Nnaemeka Achebe, Methodist archbishop of Umuahia, Chibuzo Opoko, chairman of the Enugu state traditional rulers council, L.O.C. Agubuzu, and Valerian Okeke, Catholic archbishop of Onitsha.
The statement reads;
We welcome this judgement and assert that the wisdom of the Appellate Court presents a timely and unprecedented opportunity to overcome the challenge of trust that has obstructed the path to peace; and opens the window to winning the hearts and minds of the people, the statement reads.
We therefore unequivocally support the call for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in line with the unanimous judgement of the Court that his extradition and subsequent trial was illegal, and the lower court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.
Discharged, Not Acquitted
Meanwhile, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has responded to the Court of Appeal’s decision regarding the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, stated in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, that the court only discharged Kanu and did not acquit him.
He stated that the government would investigate all available options regarding the ruling.
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