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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium (MNKGDC) has called for global solidarity for the October 20 peaceful protest being promoted by Omoleye Sowore for the unconditional release of Kanu.
The group has urged the country’s partners and the international community to base their aids to Nigeria on her compliance with the rule of law and due process.
In a statement, the group described Kanu’s continued detention and trial as an abuse of court processes and travesty of justice, arguing that he had already been acquitted by the October 13, 2022 Abuja Court of Appeal judgement.
“On October 13, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, delivered a landmark unanimous judgement in Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu (Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/625C/2018), discharging and acquitting Kanu on all counts in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.
“The panel unequivocally struck out the charges, affirmed the Federal High Court’s lack of jurisdiction abinitio due to Kanu’s unlawful rendition from Kenya, and vindicated his presumption of innocence under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN).
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“This was no mere procedural hiccup; it was a total extinguishment of the prosecution’s claims, leaving no subsisting charge, no valid remand order and no enforceable judicial process against Kanu anywhere in Nigeria.”
The group went further to state that Kanu’s “ongoing persecution exemplifies a grotesque perversion of Nigeria’s judicial system, propped up by executive lawlessness.”
The statement signed by the group’s Co-chair, Dr Idawarifa Ebirien, faulted the resurrection of his trial after a Court of Appeal had discharged him of the terrorism charge earlier preferred against him.
It also frowned at the slow pace of ‘his resurrected trial’ and the refusal of the government to release him to attend to his failing health.
MNKGDC called on the international community, human rights bodies and global leaders to demand Kanu’s “immediate release, an end to his sham trial and accountability for those who have subverted justice,” arguing that silence in the face of such injustice was bad.
“Justice delayed is justice denied, but justice corrupted is justice dead. Stand with Kanu; stand against tyranny,” the group stated.
