SHOULD NNAMDI KANU BE RELEASED?
Adeyinka Salami in Nigeria
SHOULD NNAMDI KANU BE RELEASED?
The leader and founder of the of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been held in detention since 2021, on charges of treasonable felony and other allied charges. First arrested and detained in 2015, Kanu escaped while on bail and fled to London, being a British citizen, when his country home was invaded by soldiers, resulting in the loss of some lives. Kanu was rearrested in Kenya in 2021, and forcibly brought back to Nigeria (extraordinary rendition) where he has been held by the Federal authorities since then. However, concerns have been expressed in several quarters, as to why he has continued to be detained, despite several court orders granting him bail. Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN and Chief Goddy Uwazurike examine issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, detention and why he should be released
Nnamdi Kanu: Time for Freedom and Peace
Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN
Last Week…..
Last week, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe restated his offer to stand as surety for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Not long after, in the same week, Senator John Azuta-Mbata was elected as the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Still in the same week, the Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, pardoned sixty prisoners as part of his 60th birthday anniversary. Some of the prisoners got their sentences commuted from death to life imprisonment.
Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and ESN
Undoubtedly, the major task before Ohaneze presently is to secure the release of Kanu, by all means necessary. Kanu became known as a British political activist, advocating for the secession and independence of Biafra from Nigeria. He is the leader of IPOB, which he founded in 2012. The main aim of IPOB, is to restore the defunct separatist state of Biafra which existed in Nigeria’s Eastern Region during the civil war of 1967-1970. In no uncertain terms, Kanu propagates Biafran separatism. He is very popular amongst the Igbos, especially those within the middle class. In his domain in Nigeria, Kanu was more of a tin god who commanded the respect and loyalty of the populace and his words became law. He had a large following, and was very effective in organising the people for the actualisation of the Biafra agenda. In the course of time, Kanu established the armed wing of Biafra, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), through which he was recruiting and training youths for the Biafra mandate. There were reported excesses within the fold of ESN, resulting in avoidable deaths, economic losses and indeed, a total deviation from the lofty ideals behind the formation of IPOB. But, this is not limited to Kanu, as other regions of Nigeria have produced separatists too.
Adeyinka Salami in Nigeria
SHOULD NNAMDI KANU BE RELEASED?
The leader and founder of the of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been held in detention since 2021, on charges of treasonable felony and other allied charges. First arrested and detained in 2015, Kanu escaped while on bail and fled to London, being a British citizen, when his country home was invaded by soldiers, resulting in the loss of some lives. Kanu was rearrested in Kenya in 2021, and forcibly brought back to Nigeria (extraordinary rendition) where he has been held by the Federal authorities since then. However, concerns have been expressed in several quarters, as to why he has continued to be detained, despite several court orders granting him bail. Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN and Chief Goddy Uwazurike examine issues surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, detention and why he should be released
Nnamdi Kanu: Time for Freedom and Peace
Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN
Last Week…..
Last week, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe restated his offer to stand as surety for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Not long after, in the same week, Senator John Azuta-Mbata was elected as the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo. Still in the same week, the Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, pardoned sixty prisoners as part of his 60th birthday anniversary. Some of the prisoners got their sentences commuted from death to life imprisonment.
Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and ESN
Undoubtedly, the major task before Ohaneze presently is to secure the release of Kanu, by all means necessary. Kanu became known as a British political activist, advocating for the secession and independence of Biafra from Nigeria. He is the leader of IPOB, which he founded in 2012. The main aim of IPOB, is to restore the defunct separatist state of Biafra which existed in Nigeria’s Eastern Region during the civil war of 1967-1970. In no uncertain terms, Kanu propagates Biafran separatism. He is very popular amongst the Igbos, especially those within the middle class. In his domain in Nigeria, Kanu was more of a tin god who commanded the respect and loyalty of the populace and his words became law. He had a large following, and was very effective in organising the people for the actualisation of the Biafra agenda. In the course of time, Kanu established the armed wing of Biafra, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), through which he was recruiting and training youths for the Biafra mandate. There were reported excesses within the fold of ESN, resulting in avoidable deaths, economic losses and indeed, a total deviation from the lofty ideals behind the formation of IPOB. But, this is not limited to Kanu, as other regions of Nigeria have produced separatists too.
