JUST IN: South East Senators Meet AGF, Demand Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

South East senators in Nigeria have met with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, the group of approximately 15 senators held a closed-door meeting with the AGF. Despite the private nature of the meeting, Senator Abaribe expressed optimism that the AGF would urge the Federal Government to consider Kanu’s release.

Abaribe highlighted that Kanu’s continued detention fuels insecurity and unrest in the South East. He emphasized that economic and social stability in the region hinges on Kanu’s release, revealing that Kanu has agreed to comply with any conditions set by the Federal Government for his freedom.

This meeting follows a recent decision by South East governors to petition President Bola Tinubu for Kanu’s release. Additionally, about 50 members of the House of Representatives from various regions, identifying as “Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East,” have appealed to President Tinubu to instruct the AGF to utilize Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to dismiss the terrorism-related charges against Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015, in Lagos upon his return from the United Kingdom. He was granted bail on health grounds in April 2017, but fled the country after a military raid on his residence. Following his re-arrest in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and subsequent extradition, he has remained in custody.

The courts have seen several developments in Kanu’s case, with the Court of Appeal ordering his release in October 2022, only for the Federal Government to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, on December 15, 2023, allowed the Federal Government to proceed with the trial on the remaining charges.