Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has confirmed that negotiations are in progress to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Nnamdi Kanu was initially arrested on October 14, 2015, and faced an 11-count charge including alleged terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, and illegal possession of firearms. After pleading not guilty, he was granted bail in 2017. However, following a military invasion of his family home, Kanu fled Nigeria.
The Federal Government subsequently applied for the revocation of his bail, which was granted by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in 2019. The court also ordered Kanu’s arrest, leading to his capture and forcible return to Nigeria by a combined team of security agents and international police.
Upon his return, Kanu was re-arraigned on an amended 15-count charge, primarily bordering on treasonable felony. His legal team, led by constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome, argued that the process through which Kanu was brought into the country was illegal, thereby rendering the charge incompetent and robbing the court of jurisdiction.
The court subsequently struck out eight of the 15 charges and ordered Kanu to stand trial on the remaining charges. Dissatisfied, Kanu approached the appellate court to challenge the decision, leading the Federal Government to approach the Supreme Court for redress. On December 15, the Supreme Court voided the judgment of the appellate court and ordered Kanu’s retrial.
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Speaking on the “South East political Roundtable”, a current affairs radio programme on FLO FM in Umuahia, Kalu confirmed that talks were ongoing to free Kanu. He advised South-East youths to stop the sit-at-home directive of IPOB, as it was scaring investors away from the region.
Kalu said, “We can’t put all our programmes and plans on social media. He’s my brother. Is he in the mix of what we are trying to do? Yes! It’s one of our agendas to ensure he’s released. Who wants their brother to be in jail? We are working underground. There’s a detailed strategy. It’s not by violence, you can’t coerce the government through violence. It has never worked and won’t work. Let’s be wiser. The wisdom is in peace. Let’s quench the violence.
If it’s chaotic, it won’t work. Let’s cool down. Let the man see that you’ve recognised he didn’t contribute to locking him up and that he has not done anything to the South East. We should support him and his government and not attack him. I’m standing firmly against the voice of violence, preaching peace.
That is what I’m here for, this voice of peace will echo through the Villa and he will come out. Mr President was happy with what happened in Bende and that the whole country could gather together and support this project.”
Kalu also spoke on the recently unveiled Peace In South East Project in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, asking those carrying arms to lay down their weapons and join the non-kinetic approach being canvassed by the initiative to end the security challenges and other agitations of the people.