RECENTLY, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, indicated his interest to negotiate with the Federal government to drop the treasonable felony charges against him.
Mr Kanu, who is leading a secessionist campaign for the creation of the Biafra Republic from Nigeria, is currently facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja over his separatist agitations.
His counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, gave this indication before justice, Binta Nyako, who is presiding over the treasonable felony charge against Kanu.
Relying on section 17 of the Federal High Court Act which enjoins the court to promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof, the lawyer said kanu was ready to explore this option.
Shortly after this, 50 members of the House of Representatives from various constituencies and political parties, urged president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to discontinue the charge against Kanu and release him from the incarceration.
According to the lawmakers, the president has the power to do this through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and such move will engender further peace, security and sense of belonging not only in the South East but the entire country generally.
We commend the legislators and all persons and group of persons supporting a political solution to the IPOB leader’s case.
It will definitely go a long way in dousing tension in the South East as well as reviving economic activities not only in the region but nationwide.
For instance, the man hour and huge income lost as a result of the sit-at-home order will become a thing of the past while the economy will pick up.
It is a reality today that the crisis has inflicted a lot of sufferings on the ordinary citizens, peace and order in South East in particular and the nation generally.
Besides, extra judicial killings, lawlessness, and unmitigated orgy of violence ravaging the region will be reduced to the barest minimum.
Furthermore, political solution is a manifestation of government’s commitment to the activation of the constitutional and statutory powers under sections 174 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and 108 of the administration of criminal justice Act(ACJA) 2015 respectively, which empower the Attorney General to at any stage before judgment, take over, continue or discontinue any criminal matter before the court.
This time honoured constitutional and statutory powers of the Attorney General known as nolle prosequi, constitute legal and formidable healing tools that have been applied in the past to resolve cases similar to that of IPOB leader.
For example, the federal government in exercise of the aforesaid power, discontinued the treason and treasonable felony charges against Omoyele Sowore and Sunday Igboho respectively.
This gesture from the federal government elicited applause across the country and extending same to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will definitely attract same or even wider margin of applause from not only Nigeria but the entire global human rights community.
It is against this backdrop that we join the 50 lawmakers, persons or group of persons and indeed the human rights community worldwide to urge the federal government to give eloquent expression to the relevant laws to discontinue the charges against the IPOB leader.
We also align ourselves with the advice of Justice Nyako that Kanu and his legal team should liaise with the attorney General of the federation so as to give eloquent expression to their desire.
It is our hope and indeed the human rights community that this option yields the desired result and Mazi Kanu freed.
