The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday for his trial.
Arriving in the presence of his lawyers, Kanu addressed the killings in the South-East, vehemently denying any involvement in the recent murders of soldiers in Abia State.
Kanu emphasized his commitment to peace, stating, “I condemn in its entirety all of the killings because IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle, and we maintain that stand.
Some of these soldiers, we were told, are also our people, and his family is in mourning right now. We are fighting for freedom, so how can we want violence? We want people to be free.”
Kanu’s comments come amid calls from his legal team for his release. The team, led by Barr Nnaemeka Ejiofor, has submitted a comprehensive list of domestic and international court judgments to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, advocating for Kanu’s release.
Ejiofor stated this was in response to the AGF’s claim of being unaware of Kanu’s case, insisting that his fate should be decided by the courts.
Ejiofor also urged President Bola Tinubu to respect these judgments and release Kanu.
The AGF had previously noted the complexity of Kanu’s offences, stating they could only be resolved by a competent court. He also differentiated Kanu’s case from that of Omoyele Sowore.
Recently, Kanu’s lawyers filed a preliminary objection at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try him on several charges, arguing that the relevant laws were unconstitutional.
However, Justice Binta Nyako dismissed Kanu’s request for the restoration of his revoked bail and his transfer from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to house arrest or prison custody.
Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021, following his arrest in Kenya, and continues to face terrorism-related charges from the Federal Government.
