The head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been demanded to be released immediately by regional leaders working under the auspices of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on peace and conflict settlement.
The leaders claimed that the decision was in accordance with the Court's unanimous ruling that Kanu's extradition and subsequent trial were unlawful and that the lower court lacked the authority to hear the case.
In a statement on Tuesday jointly signed by Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr Chibuzo Opoko, and others, noted that the Appellate court’s wisdom offered a timely opportunity to overcome the challenge of trust obstructing the path to peace and opening a window to winning hearts and minds of the people of the area.
The statement partly reads,: “In the recent past, the Joint Body has undertaken extensive and intense behind-the-scenes consultations with all stakeholders to broker a permanent, regionally coordinated restoration of the South-East to the status as the most peaceful and progressive subnational zone in Nigeria.
“The Joint Body has been consistent and persistent in its call for all stakeholders to not relent in the pursuit of peacebuilding and resolution of security challenges in the South East based on justice, equity, fairness, love, mutual understanding, and respect of all persons.
“In furtherance of this, we have also supported the call for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government to douse the current tensions across the Southeast and create an atmosphere for collaboration towards a constructive resolution of the issues.
“We note the opinion emanating from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, regarding the ongoing legal action instituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu which was issued on 20th July 2022.
“Among many recommendations or requests made to the Federal government, the opinion called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention
for over one year, following his rendition from Kenya in June 2021.
“We also note media reports confirming that on Thursday, October 13, 2022, a three-man panel of The Court of Appeal in Abuja led by Justice Hanatu Sankey held that the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the grounds of his rendition to Nigeria which violates the protocol on extradition and the OAU convention and subsequently discharged Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We welcome this judgement and assert that the wisdom of the Appellate Court presents a timely and unprecedented opportunity to overcome the challenge of trust that has obstructed the path to peace; and opens the window to win the hearts and minds of the people.
“We therefore unequivocally support the call for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in line with the unanimous judgement of the Court that his extradition and subsequent trial was illegal, and the lower court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.
“In conclusion, the march towards peace and the restoration of normalcy in our society and economy requires the collective action of all people of God. We are confident that all Nigerians will rise to the summons of History and act with courage, conviction and integrity.”