Nwabueze lauds Buhari for the pledge, despite President’s caveat
By Emma Ogbuehi
Foremost constitutional lawyer and pioneer Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof Ben Nwabueze, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, for dropping the hints that he would consider the demand for the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Nwabueze expressed his feelings on the pledge by the President, in a release, made available to TheNiche, on Saturday.
Buhari raised hopes of the gesture for Kanu when he hosted a group of Southeast leaders under the umbrella of Highly Respected Igbo Greats led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Igbo leaders went to Aso Rock to demand that Kanu be released to them unconditionally.
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Buhari raises hope of Igbo leaders on release of Nnamdi Kanu
The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, however, pointed out that the demand was a rather difficult one particularly because the matter was already before the courts.
He explained to his visitors that since Kanu was already standing trial, his intervention would be running contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.
Adesina’s statement titled, “President Buhari to Igbo leaders: Your demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s release is heavy. I will consider it,” which was sent to TheNiche quoted the president as saying that, “An unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), currently standing trial, runs contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.”
Buhari, the statement added, told the 93-year-old elder statesman, Mbazulike Amaechi: “You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious. In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary. God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.”
Reacting to the development, Nwabueze stated, “I applaud your decision to consider the release of Nnamdi Kanu notwithstanding as you said in your statement, that granting the request will have great consequences”.