Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has agreed to the conditions set by President Bola Tinubu’s government for his release from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody.
This was revealed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who led a delegation of about 15 South-East Senators in a meeting with Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi.
Senator Abaribe, speaking for the group, expressed optimism that the Attorney-General would advocate for Kanu’s release, noting that his prolonged detention is causing increased insecurity in the South-East. He also mentioned personally meeting with Kanu at the DSS headquarters, where Kanu expressed willingness to comply with the government’s conditions.
The meeting follows South-East governors’ appeal to President Tinubu for Kanu’s release. Earlier, 50 House of Representatives members urged the President to direct the Attorney-General to use Section 174 of the Constitution to drop the terrorism charges against Kanu.
Kanu’s legal troubles began with his arrest in Lagos in 2015, bail in 2017, and subsequent flight. Re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021, he has been in DSS custody since. Despite a Court of Appeal order for his release in October 2022, the Supreme Court overturned this in December 2023, allowing the trial to continue.
This case continues to draw attention and advocacy from South-East leaders.