The Abia State House of Assembly has concluded plans to embark on a peaceful protest to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The protest which will take place in Abuja follows the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved on Tuesday by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Austin Mmeregini, during plenary.
Mr Kanu has been in detention since he was renditioned from Kenya in 2021 and brought back to Nigeria to face a terrorism trial.
The Tinubu led administration refused to free the IPOB leader despite an appeal court ruling which discharged and acquited him.
Mmeregini, who represents Umuahia East Constituency, expressed concern over Kanu’s deteriorating health condition urge the House to support the ongoing efforts to release Kanu, just as he called on members of the National Assembly from the South-East and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership to intensify advocacy for Kanu’s medical care and unconditional release.
In his contribution, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency, Mr Isiehi Boniface, proposed that the Abia Assembly should visit the National Assembly to meet with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives over the matter, after which a press conference would be held.
Also speaking, Kalu Nwoke, representing Ohafia South, lamented that the continued detention of Kanu had worsened insecurity in parts of Ohafia, despite Otti’s efforts to restore peace.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Emmanuel Emeruwa, criticised the Federal Government’s continued detention of Kanu despite a valid court order granting him release.
He said, “Going by the law, Nigeria appears to be operating two systems of justice. Having been granted bail by the court, the government should obey that order.
“Most of us agree that the continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu is out of the ordinary and against the rule of law, unless there is something the public does not know. We can only urge the President to show mercy and grant his release.
“It would be of no use for Nnamdi Kanu to die in detention. He has not been convicted, and his offence is not unbailable. Every citizen deserves their fundamental human rights, and the government must respect that.”
The Speaker reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for Otti’s ongoing efforts and called on South-East lawmakers, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and other relevant stakeholders to sustain pressure on the Federal Government to ensure Kanu receives proper medical attention and is eventually released.
