A delegation of Senators from the South-East region has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Senators, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, made the plea during a closed-door meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
The Senators argued that Kanu’s release is essential to restore peace and stability in the South-East region, which has been experiencing economic and social stagnation due to his continued incarceration.
They noted that the peaceful demand for Kanu’s release has been hijacked by hoodlums and criminals, leading to violence and killings in the region.
Senator Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, expressed optimism that Kanu’s release would bring an end to the tension and acrimony that has engulfed the region since his arrest in 2021.
He revealed that he had met with Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja on Monday and that Kanu had agreed to abide by any conditional release.
The Senators urged the Attorney General to convey their message to President Tinubu and to use his position to terminate all charges brought against Kanu by the federal government.
They noted that political leaders, religious leaders, and stakeholders in the region have unanimously agreed that Kanu’s release is necessary for peace to return to the South-East.
Kanu was arrested in Kenya in 2021 and brought back to Nigeria to face terrorism charges. He has been in the custody of the DSS since then, despite pleading not guilty to the charges. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja had declined to admit him to bail, citing his previous failure to appear in court.
The Senators’ appeal comes as a renewed effort to resolve the longstanding issue and restore peace to the South-East region.
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