The
Southeast caucus of the House of Representatives has expressed support
for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The
caucus, in a statement, on Wednesday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu
to consider the release of Kanu and others in a similar situation. The
lawmakers noted that the IPOB leader’s release remains the most
effective way of restoring peace in the Southeast.
The
South East caucus in the statement which was signed by all the 43
members from the zone, including the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu,
noted that the the appeal for an out-of-court settlement of Kanu’s case
was also supported by the Federal High Court.
The
group added that a political solution is one of the quickest ways of
bringing an end to the matter and in turn, restoring peace in the
Southeast region.
The
statement reads: “A few days ago, at the resumed hearing of the case
against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu currently pending at an Abuja Federal High
Court, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, the issue of the
out-of-court settlement of the matter was discussed between Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu’s lawyer, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
“According
to newspaper reports, and our verified accounts of proceedings from
those who were in court on that day, the court displayed sufficient
support for the out-of-court settlement of this case, being one of the
acceptable canons of dispute resolution in our civil and criminal
jurisprudence.
“As a Caucus
of the House of Representatives from where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hails, we
have taken
liberty, in consonance with parliamentary practice, to seek
the support of other Regional caucuses of the House of Representatives,
to achieve a quick and responsible resolution of the seemingly
intractable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case, a legal impasse that is undoubtedly
the missing puzzle in solving the lingering security conundrum in the
south East of Nigeria.
“We,
therefore, as Representatives of the five Southeast states in the House
of Representatives, urge Mr President, to consider the release of Mazi
Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.
“We
are convinced that a political settlement of this matter by way of an
out-of-court settlement, as canvassed before Justice Binta Nyako, is the
quickest, most effective, and honorable way of closing this difficult
and painful chapter of our national history.”
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