Victor Ezeja
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to prove that his apology to Nigerians is genuine by releasing Kanu from detention.
Ejimakor made the comment on his Twitter handle on Saturday while reacting to President Buhari’s appeal to Nigerians whom he may have hurt in discharging his duties to forgive him.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBuhari, who made the comment on Friday at an occasion to mark his final outing as President on a Sallah Day, before handing over, thanked Nigerians for the honour to serve for two terms, 2015-2023.
“Having been a Governor, Minister and the President twice, I think God has given us an incredible opportunity to serve as your president. And I thank God for that. So, please whoever feels I have done wrong to, we are all humans,” the president said on Friday.
“There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me. And those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me,” Buhari added.
Reacting to that, Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor said that Buhari’s policy of “self determination” led to extrajudicial killings, detentions, torture and an infamous extraordinary rendition
“Dear @MBuhari: Your policy on self determination led to extrajudicial killings, detentions, torture & an infamous extraordinary rendition. Prove that your apology is genuine by freeing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu & all detained on account of self determination. It’s your legacy!” Ejimakor tweeted on Saturday.
Recall that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 when he was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya to face terrorism related charges leveled against him by the Federal Government.
The Court of Appeal in its judgment in October 2022 discharged and acquitted the the IPOB leader and ordered his immediate and unconditional release from detention.
However, the Federal government refused to obey the appellate court’s judgement and appealed it at the Supreme Court while Kanu remained in detention.
Recently there were concerns raised about Kanu’s health and the need to release him, but the government has not responded to the call.
“Except for failed nations, there’s no nation that detains a man after his incarceration is municipally & internationally declared illegal, with compensation & apology awarded to him. @MBuhari should do the responsible thing by ending this infamous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Ejimakor had tweeted few days back.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
