The Coalition of opposition lawmakers have called on President Bola Tinubu to use his constitutional powers to intervene in the Nnamdi Kanu’s court case in the interest of peace in the country, particularly the Southeast region.
The group’s spokesperson Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stated this in his reaction to the Supreme Court judgement of Friday dismissing Kanu’s acquittal by the Appeal Court.
The spokeperson described as sad watching the Supreme Court allegedly denying Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) justice after declaring his Kenya abduction and house invasion illegal in the same judgement,
”Declaring such treatments against him illegal, one expects that the apex court could have served him justice by allowing the judgment of the Court of Appeal and upholding his discharge and acquittal.
“Again, one was also expecting that they accept the prayers of his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) that the court dismiss the appeal filed by the federal government with punitive costs and uphold the cross-appeal in order to do substantial justice to this matter as his client (Kanu) has been in custody since June 29, 2021,” he said.
Speaking further, Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato federal constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, urged the President to use his constitutional powers to intervene so as to discontinue the case in the interest of peace, reconciliation and unity, especially as it affects South-East zone, as doing so would equally help in the security architecture of the zone.
“Nigeria presently is contending with terrorism in the North-East; farmers-herders’ clashes and banditry in the North-Central; abductions and armed attacks in the South-West; restiveness and attacks by unknown gunmen in the South-East, and abductions, cult wars, vandalisation of oil installations and oil theft in the South-South region.
“Kanu can help tackle insecurity in the South-East, that’s why those who want the confusion in the region and Imo state in particular to continue will always at nothing to make sure he doesn’t get justice and be freed.
“I, therefore appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show fatherly introspection by intervening for discontinuation of the process using his constitutional powers in the interest of peace, reconciliation and unity especially in this season of Christmas and New Year where forgiveness is the in-thing.”
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court set aside the judgement by the appellate court that dismissed the terrorism charges against Kanu.
The apex court held that the Court of Appeal was wrong that the trial court couldn’t try him because the prosecution violated his rights.
In the judgement prepared by Justice Garba Mohammed, the apex court, however, condemned the invasion of Kanu’s residence, declaring it irresponsible.
The court held that there is no law in the country stopping a trial based on the violation of the rights of a suspect, adding that Kanu can file a civil matter against such act instead of removing the powers of courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.
