FG's Latest Move To Keep Nnamdi Kanu In Custody: Will He Ever Regain His Freedom?

By Bernard Joseph

Since June of 2021, Nnamdi Kanu, the leading figure of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been confined, a circumstance that has ignited a firestorm of controversy and triggered a wave of legal and detention-related concerns.

The arrest and detention of Kanu were part of the Nigerian government’s bid to quash the separatist movement that had been fomenting in the southeastern part of the nation. The IPOB has been pushing for the secession of Biafra, a region that was formerly part of Nigeria but declared its independence in the late 1960s, leading to a civil war that resulted in its defeat.

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Kanu’s loyalists are asserting that it was a calculated political move designed to trample on his basic human rights. Their evidence is strong, pointing out that he was snatched from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria without any semblance of due process, then held incommunicado for extended periods. The Nigerian government has justified the arrest, linking it to his alleged involvement in acts of terrorism and incitement. Furthermore, they have contended that his detainment has been consistent with the law, with his access to legal counsel being assured.

The ramifications of Kanu’s ongoing incarceration transcend legal and political justifications, plunging the country’s stability into a precarious state. With mounting frustrations and anxiety gripping the southeast, where the populace feels neglected and subjugated by the Nigerian authorities, his detention only serves to stoke the flames of dissent and unrest. Despite a crescendo of appeals and calls for his immediate liberation, the government remains resolute in keeping Kanu’s whereabouts and well-being shrouded in secrecy. In a dramatic turn of events, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, having acquitted Mr. Kanu of all charges, had issued a directive for his prompt release from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).

The Nigerian government, in a desperate attempt to forestall Nnamdi Kanu’s release from captivity, hastily lodged four grounds of appeal with the court, only to follow up with an additional nine to strengthen its bid. The court granted the government’s request to proceed with its appeal to the Supreme Court, thereby allowing Mr Kanu to remain detained.

Buoyed by the additional time, the government doubled down on its efforts and lodged nine further grounds of appeal to the four that it initially filed in the aftermath of the Court of Appeal’s ruling on the 13th of October, 2022, discharging Nnamdi Kanu. Laying the basis for questioning the decision discharging Mr Kanu, the government said the Court of Appeal was wrong to have only considered the procedure of the IPOB leader’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya without examining the gravity of the alleged crimes he was being tried for.

The issue of Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration remains a convoluted one, raising crucial inquiries regarding the equilibrium between individual liberties and national security interests. It is imperative for the Nigerian government to guarantee Mr Kanu’s equitable treatment and uphold his fundamental rights while simultaneously addressing the core issues fueling the Biafran separatist movement. Failure to do so could have grave ramifications on the cohesion and stability of the nation.

Bernard Joseph writes for Eko Hot Blog. This media platform reserves all rights to this article.

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