SaharaReporters has exclusively revealed that the anticipated release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been delayed due to political considerations in Imo State and the forthcoming governorship election. Despite efforts to secure the British citizen’s release, political advisors close to President Bola Tinubu reportedly cautioned against taking action ahead of the crucial Imo State election scheduled for November 11, 2023.
Nnamdi Kanu, abducted from Nairobi airport in June 2021 and subsequently flown to Nigeria to face terrorism charges, has been held in solitary confinement at the Department of State Services headquarters in Abuja. Despite Kanu’s appeal for consular assistance from the British government, such requests have been unsuccessful.
Sources within the Presidency revealed that President Tinubu had contemplated ordering Kanu’s release but was dissuaded due to concerns about potential political repercussions in the Southeast region. According to the sources, advisers urged Tinubu to postpone any decision until after the Imo State governorship election, as an early release could impact the political landscape.
The Southeast has been a hotspot of insecurity, with ongoing tensions linked to Biafra agitation and the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu. The Presidency’s cautious approach reflects the intricate interplay between national security concerns and regional political dynamics.
In related developments, separatist leader Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, recently announced his legal freedom to return to Nigeria after two years. Igboho, who had been in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, expressed his intention to return home, citing fulfillment of legal conditions attached to his bail.
While Kanu secured a discharge from counts filed against him in October 2022, subsequent legal maneuvers have kept him in detention. The Court of Appeal had initially barred further arrest, detention, and trial of Kanu, but the Nigerian government appealed the decision and obtained a stay order.
Kanu’s legal team has urged the Court of Appeal not to adjourn the hearing on IPOB’s appeal challenging its proscription as a terrorist organization. The appeal, scheduled for October 16, underscores the ongoing legal battles surrounding the IPOB’s status.
Despite legal victories, Nnamdi Kanu remains in solitary confinement, raising concerns about the intersection of legal processes, political considerations, and the broader issues surrounding Biafra agitation in Nigeria.
