The World Igbo Congress writes the Nigerian government to request that Nnamdi Kanu be released immediately.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all Nigerian lawmakers, the group made the request on Thursday under the title, “The Case for Nnamdi Kanu’s Freedom: World Igbo Congress Calls for Political Resolution based on Justice, National Healing, and Unity.” The letter was signed by the group’s chairman, Festus Okere, and secretary general, Chris Ogara.
The World Igbo Congress (WIC), a US-based organization, has written to the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, requesting the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is now in detention.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and all Nigerian lawmakers, the group made the request on Thursday under the title, “The Case for Nnamdi Kanu’s Freedom: World Igbo Congress Calls for Political Resolution based on Justice, National Healing, and Unity.” The letter was signed by the group’s chairman, Festus Okere, and secretary general, Chris Ogara.
The battle for self-determination and the response it elicits from the state machinery are a wider, more systemic challenge that confronts not only Nigeria but nations globally, according to WIC, and the situation of Kanu is not simply one isolated occurrence.
The group stated that there are serious questions about how the rights of defendants to prepare a strong defense, equality of arms, and a fair trial have been upheld in light of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.
The World Igbo Congress wrote to you today to discuss a situation that is extremely concerning and puts our faith in justice, fairness, and the rule of law to the test.
The battle for self-determination and the reaction it elicits from the state machinery are a wider, more systemic challenge that confronts not only Nigeria but nations globally, as reflected in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“The central figure in this speech is a man who dared to speak up for his people’s right to self-determination, which is recognized as a fundamental human right and is established in the Geneva Convention.
However, in the process of pursuing this cause, he was subjected to an extraordinary rendition, an extended period of confinement, and a trial that has come to represent judicial bias and the deprivation of fundamental human rights.
“The Nnamdi Kanu trial has brought up serious questions about the respect for the rights of a defendant to prepare a strong defense, equality of arms, and a fair trial.”
The organization claims, “The Supreme Court itself has emphasized these as essential components of justice. However, these ideas have been blatantly ignored in Kanu’s case.
“A High Court’s adamant declaration that “the defendant cannot dictate to the Court on how to conduct the trial” highlights a rejection of the judiciary’s responsibility to be fair and impartial in addition to a man’s rights.
“The possibility for the Nigerian government to discontinue Kanu’s prosecution as permitted by the Constitution draws parallels from previous cases,” the WIC noted. These cases include the release of 313 Boko Haram terrorists who were in custody; the kidnapping and ransom payments of millions of dollars from Hamisu Bala, also known as Wadume, who killed hundreds of innocent Nigerians, including several Nigerian soldiers and security personnel; and other incidents where the government used its discretion to deal with politically charged offenses.
“Others are all free, including Sunday Igboho and Mr. Omoyele Sowore. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been held by the DSS for nearly four years despite the fact that he did not kill, kidnap, or demand a ransom. Instead, he merely sought improved governance. Talk about deliberate injustice.
“We are forced to support a political solution in light of these violations of justice and fairness—a solution that goes beyond the confined spaces of court cases and into the wider sphere of human compassion, national unity, and the recognition of the peoples’ right to self-determination.”
“Such a solution recognizes that Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention serves no constructive purpose and only deepens the divisions within our society,” the organization added. It recognizes that communication, comprehension, and observance of human rights—including the right to self-determination—are the foundations of genuine peace and advancement.
“There is a clear path to justice and reconciliation,” it implied. It entails following national and international organizations’ calls—from the African Union’s denunciation of IPOB’s prohibition to the UN’s insistence on Kanu’s release and the preservation of self-determination.
Respecting the decisions made by our own courts, which have ruled that his detention violates his fundamental human rights, is necessary.
Remember that a country’s greatness comes from its ability to interact productively with opposition, not from its ability to quell it.
Nigeria, a country founded on the desire for independence, finds itself at a turning point. Will we uphold our constitution, our history, and our obligations under international law? Or will we reject the fundamental ideas that form the basis of our country’s identity?
“To the government, we say, embrace a political solution,” the group added. As a goodwill gesture and first step in mending the nation, release Nnamdi Kanu. We implore the judiciary to: uphold the principles of impartiality and impartiality in the legal system.
And we make an appeal to the people, uniting in our support of the values of justice, equality before the law, and the freedom to make our own decisions. Let us, in conclusion, look for a political solution—one that prioritizes communication over polarization, fairness over unfairness, reconciliation over animosity, and, in the end, tranquility over persecution.
“Because in the end, our country’s very soul is at risk, not just Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom.”
“Adherence to the 2018 African Union decision condemning the proscription of IPOB and the arrest of its members, which binds the current Nigerian President due to the principle of government continuity,” is one of several ways, the group claims, to resolve Kanu’s case and secure his freedom before the next trial date.
Respect for the UN’s demands that IPOB be deproscribed, that Kanu be released unconditionally in accordance with his right to self-determination, and that his extraordinary rendition be denounced.
The Federal High Court’s ruling ordering Kanu’s release is urged to be respected by the Nigerian government, underscoring the constitutional need for such rulings to be implemented nationally.
Kanu’s imprisonment and prosecution are affected legally by the Enugu State High Court’s decision to overturn IPOB’s proscription as a terrorist organization. The court suggests that the government reevaluate the proscription in light of this finding.
The prospect that, in accordance with the Constitution, the Nigerian government could drop Kanu’s prosecution, citing precedents in which this kind of discretion was applied to politically sensitive charges.
“The Nigerian government could use other constitutional means, like the Attorney General stopping the prosecution or the court promoting reconciliation, to end the legal proceedings against Kanu, OR by adhering to these court rulings and international directives.”
