Kanu’s conviction, a travesty of justice, says South East Traders Association

Seeks Tinubu’s intervention

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

The South East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEAMATA), the apex union of traders across the five South-East states, has described the recent conviction of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court as a “travesty of justice”.

The association, which also comprises traders of Igbo origin conducting business nationwide and in the Diaspora, in a statement by its President General, Chief Emeka Emechebe, issued after its general meeting yesterday in Enugu, expressed shock over the court ruling, noting that such a situation amounts to a miscarriage of justice.

SEAMATA recalled that the Court of Appeal, Abuja, had on Thursday, October 13, 2022, discharged and acquitted Kanu of terrorism charges but regretted that despite that ruling, the IPOB leader remained in detention until last week’s conviction.

The traders expressed concern that the sentence was based on a law they noted had been repealed years earlier and also pointed out that several prominent Igbo elder statesmen — including former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, the late Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; the late Chief Mbazulike Amechi; and the late constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN) — had appealed to former President Muhammadu Buhari for a political solution to Kanu’s case, though their efforts did not materialise before their demise.

SEAMATA urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene through the prerogative of mercy and adopt a political solution that would lead to Kanu’s release, saying such a move would help restore calm, reduce insecurity and ease youth restiveness in the South East.

“The Association is most humbly and respectfully appealing to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu G.C.F.R, to most graciously, in his wisdom, through prerogative of mercy, apply political solution that shall enable the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This action will not only serve justice but shall go a very long way in curbing insecurity and assuage youth restiveness in the South East Geo-Political Zone.”

The group also called on the governors of the South-East states to lend their voices to the quest for justice and a peaceful resolution of the matter.

“We are anxiously expecting a positive and gracious consideration of our humble request from our ever-listening President,” the group stated.