The World Igbo Congress (WIC) has called on the judiciary to uphold the tenets of fair trial and justice without bias or influence in all cases. They urged the Federal Government (FG) to embrace a political solution by releasing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu as a gesture of goodwill and a step towards national healing.
They also seek a political solution, one that fosters dialogue over division, justice over injustice, healing over hostility, and ultimately, peace over persecution.
In a letter to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and the lawmakers, the group lamented that the trial of Kanu has raised profound concerns regarding the adherence to the principles of a fair trial, equality and the right of a defendant to prepare an adequate defence.
“The Supreme Court itself has highlighted these as indispensable elements of justice. Yet, in Kanu’s case, these principles have been conspicuously disregarded.
“The stark proclamation by a High Court that the defendant cannot dictate to the Court on how to conduct the trial underscores a dismissal not just of a man’s right but of the judiciary’s duty to fairness and impartiality.”
“The possibility for the Nigerian government to discontinue Kanu’s prosecution as permitted by the Constitution draws parallels from previous cases, including the release of 313 detained Boko Haram terrorists; that of Hamisu Bala, aka Wadume, the notorious armed bandit who not only killed hundreds of innocent Nigerians, including several security operatives but also kidnapped and collected millions in ransom payments. Such discretion was exercised in their favour.
“Others, including Mr. Omoyele Sowore and Sunday Igboho, are all free. Kanu, who did not kill, kidnap or collect ransom, but only was seeking good governance is still in detention at the Department of State Security (DSS), for almost four years. Talk about purposeful injustice,” the group lamented.
The Congress continued: “The path to justice and reconciliation is clear. It lies in adhering to the calls from national and international bodies from the African Union’s condemnation of IPOB’s prescription to the United Nations’ directives for Kanu’s release and the respect for self-determination. It involves honouring the rulings of our courts, which have declared his detention a violation of his fundamental human rights.
“Let us not forget that the greatness of a nation lies not in its ability to subdue dissent but in its capacity to engage with it constructively. Nigeria, a nation born out of the determination for self-rule, now stands at a crossroads. Will we honor our history, our commitments under international law and our constitution or will we ignore the principles that underpin our very identity as a nation?”
