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Why Plans To Free Nnamdi Kanu By FG is Halted

Published

1 year ago

Oct 14, 2023.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Plans to free Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is halted on account of Imo State politics and the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Kanu, the leader of the separatist group, was abducted on June 19, 2021, from Nairobi airport in Kenya and then detained and tortured for about 10 days in Kenya.

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Since Kanu was brought to Nigeria to face trial for terrorism charges, he has been detained in solitary confinement at the headquarters of the Department of State Services, Nigeria’s secret police, in the capital city, Abuja.

Sources in the Presidency revealed that President Bola Tinubu would have ordered the release of Kanu, but he was advised against doing so at this time by some politicians close to him.

It was gathered that Tinubu was advised to hold on till after the Imo State governorship election scheduled for November 11, 2023, as Kanu’s release before then could have political implications in the Southeast region.

“The release of Nnamdi Kanu was stalled by the Southeast politics of Imo. They claimed to Tinubu that his release might affect the election in Imo, so the president waited,” said a source.

The Court of Appeal discharged Kanu of the counts filed against him in October 2022. The appellate court subsequently barred any further arrest, detention, or trial of Kanu by the agents of the government.

The federal government later appealed against the judgment at the Supreme Court and subsequently got another panel of the Court of Appeal to stay the judgment of the appellate court.