Iwuanyanwu to Buhari: Release Nmamdi Kanu as parting gift to Igbo

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), an unconditional release.

Iwuanyanwu spoke at Oguta LGA in Imo state on Thursday during the flag-off ceremony of the Oguta/Orashi dredging project.

He said Igbos have no intention of seceding, adding that an average Igbo person is agitating for “a fair share of what is due for them”.

“Igbo is happy. Igbos are industrious and non-violent. We thank the president for the dredging of Oguta/Orashi river. It will open up economic opportunities for both Imo and Nigeria,” he said.

“I want to also appeal to the president to actualize the release of Nnamdi Kanu, as part of his parting gift to Ndigbo, now that his tenure is coming to an end on May 29.

“Contrary to what Nigerians think, Igbos have no intention to secede. We are major stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy and Nigeria is the only country we can all call our own.”

BACKGROUND

Kanu has been in detention since he was brought back from Kenya on June 19, 2021.

He was re-arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony preferred against him by the federal government.

However, on April 8 2022, the judge struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge, and in October, the court of appeal in Abuja struck out the terrorism charge filed against Kanu.

But the federal government filed an appeal before the supreme court challenging the judgement — and subsequently filed an amended charge before a federal high court.

The federal government also filed a stay the execution in the appellate court and it was granted.

Kanu subsequently appealed the verdict stopping his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

During the court proceedings on Thursday, the supreme court adjourned the hearing of the suit filed by Kanu to September 14.