Ohanaeze Youth Council Demands Unconditional Release of Nnamdi Kanu

As the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), approaches, the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has called on the federal government to discontinue the case and grant him an unconditional release, citing severe violations of his human rights.

In a statement released on Sunday, OYC National President Igboayaka O. Igboayaka accused the federal government of engaging in tribal victimization, chronic hatred, and ethnic cleansing through the prosecution of Kanu.

He criticized Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court, alleging that the court has become a “theatre of dramatic exhibition,” undermining Nigeria’s judicial system and projecting the country as a “Banana Republic.”

“Following the illegal arrest of Kanu by the federal government of Nigeria and his incarceration since 2021, there is no known individual on earth whose rights have been more deliberately violated than Nnamdi Kanu,” Igboayaka stated.

The OYC president highlighted several key points:

1. Illegal Arrest and Continuous Detention: Kanu’s arrest and detention, spanning from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, is described as a conspiracy involving the British government and their allies within Nigeria to subjugate the Igbo people.

2. Court Proceedings: Igboayaka claimed that Kanu’s prosecution lacks merit in any competent Nigerian court.

He condemned the Department of State Services (DSS) for violating judicial orders by insisting on meeting Kanu’s legal team separately, thereby hindering the preparation for his trial.

3. Judicial Impunity: He criticized Justice Binta Nyako for not prosecuting the DSS Director for contempt of court, thus damaging the credibility of legal proceedings and tarnishing Nigeria’s human rights record.

4. Political Leaders’ Responsibility: Igboayaka called on Igbo political leaders, including Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and governors from the Southeast, to confront the federal government to ensure Kanu’s immediate release before the scheduled trial dates of June 19-20, 2024.

5. Warning of Unrest: He warned that Kanu’s continued detention is provoking anger among the Igbo youth, potentially leading to increased unrest if the government does not act wisely.

“The release of Nnamdi Kanu is the beginning of wisdom to avoid raising more of the likes of Nnamdi Kanu in Igbo land,” the statement concluded.

The OYC’s demands come amidst widespread concerns over human rights violations and the ongoing political tension surrounding Kanu’s trial.