Again, Okorie appeals to Tinubu for Kanu’s release ahead of March 21 trial
Elder statesman, Chekwas Okorie, yesterday, said that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has suffered grievously, restating his appeal to President Bola Tinubu to facilitate his release and other prisoners of conscience in the country from further incarceration.
He stated that since 2015, Kanu had suffered grievously from his extraordinary rendition from Kenya on June 27, 2021, stressing that with the current situation in his case, there is a tendency that it would be re-instituted.
In a statement in Enugu, Okorie said: “It is with the utmost sense of responsibility and patriotism that I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to seize the moment and facilitate the release of Nnamdi Kanu and his fellow prisoners of conscience from further incarceration in Nigerian dungeons.
“I am persuaded by the new opportunity provided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, whose administrative intervention prompted the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the protracted suit first filed by the Federal Government against Kanu on November 23, 2015, in an Abuja Magistrate Court.
“Since 2015, Kanu has suffered grievously, including his extraordinary rendition from Kenya on June 27, 2021. “It is a known fact that by the operation of the law, this matter will be re-instituted afresh. This window gives the President the leverage to direct the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to enter a nolle prosequi in the Kanu matter to discharge and acquit him and bring closure to his vexatious incarceration.”
MEANWHILE, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has fixed Friday, March 21, for Kanu’s trial. Yesterday, it was gathered that Justice Omotosho fixed the date after the case file was transferred to him. Kanu, who was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya, was expected to take his plea as the case begins afresh (de novo).
The Chief Judge (CJ) of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, had, in a letter dated March 4 and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Justice Binta Nyako to Justice Omotosho.
The re-assignment followed the demand by Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the seven-count terrorism charge to another judge after alleging bias. On September 24, 2024, Justice Nyako recused (withdrew) herself from the case and sent the case file to the CJ of FHC for re-assignment.
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