The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused certain Igbo politicians of obstructing the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention. Kanu has been held by the State Security Services since 2021 after being extradited from Kenya to Nigeria. He faces charges of terrorism.
Despite the recent South-East Governors’ Forum meeting in Enugu, which resolved to approach President Bola Tinubu for a political solution to Kanu’s case, IPOB’s spokesman, Mr. Emma Powerful, issued a stern warning to politicians allegedly working against Kanu’s release.
Powerful claimed that efforts were being made by some politicians to undermine the release of Kanu, who was discharged and acquitted by the Appeal Court on October 13, 2022. He cautioned those involved to desist, stating, “We know of their secret meetings and discussions against MNK.”
He further warned, “If they continue with their sabotage, their names will be made public soon. We are closely monitoring the activities of political jobbers in the South-East Region working against the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
Powerful alleged that certain individuals were holding clandestine meetings with South-East governors to thwart calls for Kanu’s release, describing him as “the only political prisoner in Nigeria currently.”
He added, “We warn those sabotaging the unconditional release of our leader to stop provoking IPOB. The saboteurs should know that nothing happens in the South-East Region without IPOB getting the intel ahead of time. Those Igbos involved in this dastardly act to frustrate the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should retrace their steps quickly.”
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja had previously granted Kanu’s lead counsel, Barr. Aloy Ejimakor, the permission to seek political solutions to Kanu’s detention.
