From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
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.”
