The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has once again urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, June 27, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the group described Kanu’s prolonged detention as unjust and a violation of fundamental human rights. It cited a recent ruling by a Kenyan High Court, which declared Kanu’s 2021 rendition from Kenya to Nigeria illegal and in breach of international law.
“Keeping Nnamdi Kanu in custody for four years, despite both legal and diplomatic revelations, places a moral burden on the Nigerian judiciary and questions our nation’s commitment to justice,” Ohanaeze stated.
The group called on President Bola Tinubu to exercise his constitutional powers to bring the matter to a close, emphasizing that dialogue and political solutions remain the most viable path to national unity.
Ohanaeze also warned that continued disregard for legal norms would not only escalate tensions in the Southeast but further erode trust in Nigeria’s justice system.
“The President should act with the wisdom of a statesman. Nnamdi Kanu’s release will signal healing and reconciliation,” the statement added.
The renewed call follows increasing domestic and international scrutiny over the legality of Kanu’s detention and the Nigerian government’s handling of the case.
