Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), publicly denounced the violence in the South-East associated with the group’s secessionist agitation on Wednesday. Kanu also called for an out-of-court settlement of his ongoing treason trial with the Federal Government.
Call for Non-Violence
In a widely circulated video, Kanu condemned the killings in the South-East, emphasizing that IPOB is founded on non-violent principles. Speaking with his lawyers, he stated, “I condemn any manner of killing. Every manner of killing, I condemn in its entirety. We are fighting for freedom, then how can we fight death at the same time? It’s not possible; we want people to be free. That’s all we’re fighting for, nothing more.”
Kanu highlighted the historical suffering of Africans and stressed the need to focus on uplifting the continent rather than perpetuating violence.
Court Proceedings
During his appearance at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Kanu, represented by his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, appealed for an out-of-court settlement. Ejimakor informed Justice Binta Nyako and prosecuting counsel Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) that “the defence wants the case settled out of court.”
Ejimakor also raised concerns about the Department of State Services (DSS) not complying with court orders to provide unrestricted access to Kanu for legal consultations. He alleged that Kanu’s cell was bugged, prompting the legal team to consider contempt proceedings against the DSS Director General.
Judge’s Ruling
Justice Nyako ordered the DSS to provide an “unbugged space” for Kanu to meet with his lawyers, specifying that it could be a location outside the DSS building but within the premises. She also advised Kanu’s team to approach the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for an out-of-court settlement, as this power resides with the AGF.
On Kanu’s fresh application challenging the court’s jurisdiction, the judge dismissed it, stating that the court could not overrule its previous decisions. She ordered the prosecution to file and serve its proof of evidence on the defendant, with the matter adjourned to September 24 for hearing.
Ohanaeze’s Support for Amicable Settlement
The apex Igbo sociopolitical group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expressed support for Kanu’s proposal for an out-of-court settlement. Chief Vincent Aham, Deputy Vice-President (South-East) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said in an interview that dialogue with the Federal Government was overdue and could lead to Kanu’s release, which would help quell the insecurity in the South-East.
Aham recalled that previous efforts by elder statesmen for Kanu’s release during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration were unsuccessful despite court orders. He urged President Bola Tinubu to consider the people’s plea and release Kanu to restore peace in the region.
“It is our belief that his release will go a long way to douse the tension in the South-East triggered by insecurity and killings. Kanu himself has consistently maintained that the killings and insecurity in the region should stop, maintaining that IPOB was created based on a ‘non-violence’ platform,” Aham said.
Conclusion
Nnamdi Kanu’s denouncement of violence and call for negotiation marks a significant step towards seeking a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the South-East. As the trial continues, the possibility of an out-of-court settlement remains a pivotal point of discussion between the IPOB leader and the Federal Government.
