THE proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and a former Senate Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe have described as unfortunate the non-release of the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
This was as the Supreme Court on Friday set aside a judgment by the lower court that dismissed the terrorism charges against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The apex court held that the court of appeal was wrong and that the trial court couldn’t try him because the prosecution violated his rights.
In the judgment prepared by Justice Garba Mohammed, the court condemned the invasion of Kanu’s residence, declaring it irresponsible.
Reacting, IPOB, through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, in a terse statement on Friday, described Kanu’s continuous detention as ‘unconstitutional’, saying that self-determination is legal as supported by the United Nations laws and by the Africa Union Charter.
Powerful, also commended the Anambra and Enugu state governors, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Dr Peter Mba, respectively, on their call for the unconditional release of the pro-Biafran leader.
Also commenting, Abaribe who described the judgment as an ‘unfortunate outcome’ called for calm over the non-release of Kanu.
Part of his statement read, “I’m of the firm belief that this current Federal Government will do something very fast to release Nnamdi Kanu, if for no other reason, but for national cohesion and unity of the country.
“As leaders, we shall continue to press for a solution that will be the best in the circumstance.”
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was subsequently granted bail in April 2017 and fled the country after an invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the Nigerian military in September 2017.
Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021.
