The South-East caucus in the House of Representatives has joined the call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
By Emma Ogbuehi
The South-East caucus in the House of Representatives has joined the call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider releasing him and others in a similar situation.
The caucus made the call in a statement signed by the 43 lawmakers spread across the 5 States of the South East geopolitical zone.
Their demand comes closely on the heels of an earlier visit by Senators from the zone to the Attorney General and Minister , Lateef Fagbemi on the same topic.
The signatories to the statement included the Deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (Abia); the Deputy minority whip of the House, Hon. George Ozodinobi (Anambra); the leader of the South East caucus, Hon. Enwo Igariwey (Ebonyi); the Deputy Leader of the caucus, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji (Enugu) and the Secretary of the caucus, Hon. Miriam Onuoha (Imo).
Others from Abia State are Hon. Aguocha Obinna, Hon. Nkwonta Chris, Hon. Onwusibe Ginger Obinna, Hon. Ogah Amobi Godwin, Hon. Alozie Munachim Ikechi, Hon. Mascot Ikwechegh and Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa
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From Anambra State, the signatories are Rt. Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Agbodike Paschal, Hon. Okafor Dominic Ifeanyi, Hon. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe, Hon. Okonkwo Uchenna Harris, Hon. Orogbu Obiageli, Hon. Peter Uzokwe, Hon. Emeka Idu Godwin Obiajulu, Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara, Hon. Aniekwe Peter Udogalanya
Those from Ebonyi State are Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Hon. Uguru Emmanuel, Hon. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, Hon. Nwabasi Joseph and Hon. Osi Kama Nkemkanma St.Andy
From Enugu State, the lawmakers are Hon. Martins Oke, Hon. Atigwe Simon, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, Hon. Nnamchi Paul Sunday, Hon. Atu Chimaobi Sam, Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha and Hon. Obetta Mark Chidi.
Imo State lawmakers on the train are Hon. Chike Okafor, Hon. Emeka Chinedu, Hon. Okere Tochukwu Chinedu, Hon. Nwachukwu Canice Moore, Hon. Dibiagwu Eugene Okechukwu, Hon. Nwogu Mathew, Hon. Ikeagwuonwu Onyinye U. M., Hon. Amadi Akarachi Etinosa and Hon. Harrison Nwadike.
The caucus said that the appeal for an out-of-court settlement of Kanu’s case was also supported by the federal high court, adding that a political solution is one of the quickest ways of bringing an end to the matter and in turn, restoring peace in the South East region.
The statement read thus: A few days ago, at the resumed hearing of the case against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu currently pending at an Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, the issue of the out-of-court settlement of the matter was discussed between Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
“According to newspaper reports, and our verified accounts of proceedings from those who were in court on that day, the court displayed sufficient support for the out-of-court settlement of this case, being one of the acceptable canons of dispute resolution in our civil and criminal jurisprudence.
“As a Caucus of the House of Representatives from where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hails, we have taken liberty, in consonance with parliamentary practice, to seek the support of other Regional caucuses of the House of Representatives, to achieve a quick and responsible resolution of the seemingly intractable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case, a legal impasse that is undoubtedly the missing puzzle in solving the lingering security conundrum in the south East of Nigeria.
“We, therefore, as Representatives of the five Southeast states in the House of Representatives, urge Mr President, to consider the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.
“We are convinced that a political settlement of this matter by way of an out-of-court settlement, as canvassed before Justice Binta Nyako, is the quickest, most effective, and honourable way of closing this difficult and painful chapter of our national history.”
The five governors from the zone had at their meeting on Tuesday, resolved to meet the President on the matter. Only recently, 50 members of the House of Representatives from different parts of Nigeria and political parties, known as Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East, wrote to President Bola Tinubu to invoke Section 174 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 for the release of the detained IPOB leader.
The lawmakers made this appeal in a three-page letter signed by the lawmakers, dated June 19, 2024, and addressed to the President.