Kayode Shopekan
A group of leaders from the South East region of Nigeria has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The appeal was made on Friday when the President received a delegation of elders from the region, led by a First Republic Parliamentarian and Former Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi, at the State House, Abuja.
Amaechi who requested that Nnamdi Kanu be released to him, pleaded for a political solution instead of a military approach to the situation.
He said “if Kanu is released to him as the only First Republic Minister alive, he (Kanu) would no longer say the things he had been saying.”
The former minister promised to control Kanu, saying, “not because I have anything to do with them (IPOB), but because I am highly respected in Igbo land today.”
“I have interfaced with Nnamdi Kanu in the past twice, and the latter rescinded orders earlier given on civil disobedience.
“I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire,” Amaechi told President Buhari.
Reacting to the request made by the delegation, Buhari promised to consider the release of Kanu.
The President who spoke through his media adviser, Femi Adesina said “you’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious.
“In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary.”
The President explained that an unconditional release of Kanu who is the leader of the outlawed IPOB, and currently standing trial, runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.
Buhari who reminded the delegation of his policy of non-interference with the Judiciary, said when Kanu jumped bail, got re-arrested and was brought back to the country, “I said the best thing was to allow him to face the court and prove his case there instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”
Others among the delegation were former Anambra State Governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Methodist Church Bishop, Sunday Onuoha, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Also known as Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike; and Mr Tagbo Amaechi.
Kanu has been facing charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, among others.
After he was rearrested in a foreign country and brought back to Nigeria, he has been in DSS custody while facing trial at the Abuja Federal High Court
On July 26, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja adjourned the trial of Kanu until October 21 after the DSS failed to produce him in court.
After the October 21 trial, Justice Nyako again adjourned the trial to November 10.
Following a walk-out staged by Kanu’s counsels over the refusal of security operatives to allow one of the members of the legal team to enter the court, room, and observe proceedings, the judge Justice adjourned the trial to January.
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