James Adamu in Abuja
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has assured the people of South East that a political solution is being vigorously pursued to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This assurance followed Thursday the life imprisonment sentence handed to Kanu by a Federal High Court in Abuja, a ruling that had sparked anxiety across the country, particularly in the South-East.
In a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, on Thursday, the Deputy Speaker said to fulfill a dual mandate: to prevent a violent backlash to the court’s decision and to affirm the commitment of high-level government officials to a diplomatic resolution.
His intervention serves as a crucial channel of communication to Kanu’s supporters and the wider Igbo community, urging calm while high-stakes political negotiations unfold behind the scenes.
“It is now time to explore political solutions that had been hindered because the matter was before the court. But now that the court has finished, it is time to intensify request for the President’s intervention and we are sure that the President is not averse to it,” Kalu was quoted as saying in the press release.
Kalu’s statement explicitly acknowledges that the legal conclusion of the case, while delivering a severe judgment, has ironically unlocked a new path for resolution. With the judicial process concluded, the matter now transitions fully into the realm of executive discretion, where pardon, negotiation, and political settlement become possible tools for peace.
Expressing profound confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Deputy Speaker stated that the President would not be opposed to listening to the pleas of well-meaning Igbo leaders on the matter. This indicates that dialogues have likely been ongoing at the highest levels of government, with Kalu positioning himself as a key advocate for a peaceful resolution.
“We are going to get it. All hope is not lost. Our people should remain calm,” Kalu assured, directly addressing the millions who view Kanu’s detention as a focal point of grievance.
Spear News reports that Justice Omotosho on Thursday ruled that Kanu orchestrated violent acts through threats, incitement and directives to his followers.
He said terrorism could not be defended under any principle of law. The judge noted that Kanu refused to present a defence and disrupted proceedings.
The prosecution asked the court to impose the maximum penalty under the Terrorism Prevention Act.
Kanu’s trial has lasted several years. He was first arrested in 2015 for treasonable felony and terrorism.
He fled Nigeria in 2017 while on bail after a military operation at his residence during “Operation Python Dance.”
He was re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021 under disputed circumstances and returned to Nigeria, a move his team described as an “extraordinary rendition.”
Prosecutors later expanded the charges to 15 counts, including terrorism and incitement.
Kanu’s lawyers have repeatedly questioned the legality of the trial and alleged serious procedural violations. They argue that issues involving extradition and jurisdiction undermine the legitimacy of the prosecution.
Discussion about this post