The Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has expressed optimism to ensure that President Bola Tinubu releases Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since he was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021.
Penpushing reports that the wife of the late Biafra warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu, made this known at the 13th memorial anniversary of her husband in Owerri, Imo State Capital, expressed confidence that the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will soon regain freedom.
The minister stated that she believes the president understands the importance of Kanu’s release, explaining that the gesture will expose the masqueraders behind the violence and help restore order in the country.
“President Tinubu understands the importance of Kanu’s release. It will expose the masqueraders behind the violence and help restore order. I will do whatever it takes to ensure His Excellency (Tinubu) grants this request,” she stated.
Penpushing further reports that Ojukwu argued that freeing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader would expose criminals who have used his detention as a cover to carry out criminality in the South-East.
‘The release of Nnamdi Kanu is paramount to separating genuine freedom fighters from criminals causing mayhem in the South-east. Our people face existential threats, and we must act to restore peace’, she emphasised.
Penpushing also reports that the Minister stressed that the Igbo people are not known for harming their own and argued that there was a need for collective action to reclaim the region from criminality and insecurity.
The widow of late Biafran warlord lamented that, years after the death of her husband, a revered Igbo leader, the South-East has become a hotbed of violence and insecurity, noting that as a result of that indigenes are fleeing
“Communities are empty. Our illustrious sons and daughters have fled. Kidnappers now abduct their brothers for ransom. This is not what Dim Ojukwu fought for. Ndigbo are enterprising and their brother’s keepers. We must reclaim our land and continue to propagate the ideals for which Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu stood’, she said.
Penpushing reports that Ojukwu criticised those who impose violent sit-at-home in the South-East, stating that the illegal order contradicts the ideals of self-determination and has stifled economic activities in Igbo land.
The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),it is recalled was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, while on October 13, 2022 the Court of Appeal, Abuja, held that Kanu was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria.
Penpushing further reports that the court added that the action was a flagrant violation of the country’s extradition treaty and a breach of his fundamental human rights and therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the State Security Service (SSS) facility.
The Nigerian government, however, refused to release Kanu, insisting that he could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-East, where he comes from.
Penpushing also reports that the government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying the execution of the court judgement at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on December 15,2023, delivering judgement on the appeal reversed the acquittal granted to Kanu by the lower court and consequently ordered the continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court Abuja.
Penpushing reports that in view of the development, several Igbo leaders, including governors in the South-East and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo, have separately appealed to successive Nigerian governments to release but the Nigerian government ignored their requests.
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