Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District, revealed this development following a recent meeting between South-East Senators and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). About 15 federal lawmakers participated in the closed-door meeting.
Senator Abaribe expressed optimism that the Attorney-General would influence the Federal Government to consider releasing Kanu. He mentioned that Kanu’s prolonged detention has been contributing to heightened insecurity and unrest in the South-East region.
This meeting follows the decision by South-East governors to directly appeal to President Tinubu for Kanu’s release. Additionally, a group of 50 House of Representatives members has urged President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General to use Section 174 of the Constitution to terminate the terrorism-related charges against Kanu in court.
Kanu’s legal challenges began with his initial arrest in Lagos in October 2015, his bail in April 2017, and subsequent escape from the country during his trial. He was re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and has since remained in DSS custody. Despite the Court of Appeal’s order for his release in October 2022, the Supreme Court overturned this decision in December 2023, allowing the Federal Government to proceed with the trial on seven remaining charges.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Senator Abaribe highlighted Kanu’s willingness to comply with government conditions for his release. He underscored the significance of this development for peace and security in the South-East region.
Lawmakers and leaders from the South-East continue to advocate for Kanu’s release, citing its potential positive impact on regional stability and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, Isaac Fayose, a social activist and the younger brother of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and give him contracts like ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did with Niger Delta militant leader, Tompolo.
Fayose said Kanu’s release would help Tinubu get more votes from the Southeast in 2027.
In a video on his Instagram handle, Fayose said releasing Kanu would reduce the level of insecurity in the Southeast.
According to him: “Releasing Nnamdi Kanu will reduce crime in the South-East by 50%. And APC will get more votes in 2027.
“If President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan can give a contract to Tompolo to have peace in the Niger Delta, why can’t we do the same in the South-East?”
“If we are spending so much money on security in the Southeast, the money will be reduced by 50% releasing Kanu,” Fayose advised.
He added that, “If I were president Tinubu, after the election, when I noticed that the Southeast people didn’t vote for me, I would have released Kanu to counter them; releasing Kanu can make some of them say, ‘oh this man has a good intention’”.
He made the call amid an appeal by the 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi and other Nigerians that Tinubu should release Kanu.