Breaking: Political-Leaders From South East Endorse-Negotiated Release For Kanu (Details)

Breaking: Political-Leaders From South East Endorse-Negotiated Release For Kanu (Details)

The South East caucus of the House of Representatives has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider releasing the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others in a similar situation as part of ways of resolving the security crisis in the South East.

The 43 lawmaker sais they were in support of the out-of-court settlement being discussed between lawyers to the detained IPOB Leader and the representatives of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice at the resume hearing of the case against him.

The statement was signed by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (Abia); Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi (Anambra); the leader of the South East caucus, Enwo Igariwey (Ebonyi); Deputy Leader of the caucus, Nnolim Nnaji (Enugu) and the Secretary of the caucus, Miriam Onuoha (Imo).

The statement was also signed by all the lawmakers from the zone from all political divides.

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 from, 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 south East 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 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.”