By Adadainfo
The recent demand by Anambra State Governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the custody of the Department of the State Services is for political gains.
Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. He is being tried over alleged running of a proscribed group, jumping bail and treason.
Kanu’s lawyer, Barr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said Soludo should be talking about the federal government obeying the Oct 13, 2022 Appeal Court ruling which discharged and acquitted Kanu.
Ejiofor stated that, “We welcome Soludo’s call for Nnamdi Kanu’s unconditional release. It is in line with the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had directed, since October 13, 2022, his unconditional release.
“That is the extant order of the court – that he should be released unconditionally and be allowed to go a free man. He is illegally held in the custody of the Department of States Services.
“We need to clarify that the issue of asking the federal government to grant him the request to be a surety to Kanu does not arise because we have gone beyond that level; even the amended charge filed against Kanu has been quashed. As such, there is no charge pending against him as of today in any court.
“So, the issue of releasing Kanu to Soludo does not arise. He has been freed, discharged and acquitted. We should be talking of asking the government to obey the order of the court, which directed for his unconditional release.”
Ejiofor expressed shock that Soludo would make such demand during the campaign of his party in Awka.
Recall that Soludo requested an ‘unconditional release’ of Kanu, adding that he would stand as Kanu’s surety.
In his words, “I am making a passionate appeal to the federal government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. If he cannot be released unconditionally, I want him released to me and I will stand surety for him.
“We need Nnamdi Kanu in the roundtable conversation to discuss the insecurity in the South-East. We must end insecurity in the South-East and we need Nnamdi Kanu to be around.”
