Mike Ozekhome, a human rights lawyer, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), News About Nigeria reports.
Ozekhome made the call during his keynote address at the Handshake Across The Niger II event in Enugu State.
According to him, the struggle for Biafra’s self-determination is legally guaranteed in Nigeria’s laws and international human rights treaties, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights.
He criticized the impunity of Nigeria’s leaders and pointed out that a court had ordered Kanu’s release, but the government filed for a stay of execution and was granted it. Ozekhome argued that Kanu didn’t jump bail but escaped to save his life when armed soldiers invaded his home.
He asked whether the court case would have continued if Kanu had been killed during the invasion.
Ozekhome also said that Kanu is unwell and has been denied access to his private doctor by the Department of State Services (DSS).
However, he did not disclose the name of the illness.
But the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that he is battling tuberculosis.
Ozekhome requested that the Federal Government release Kanu immediately and urged Buhari to take action.
He suggested that the Attorney General of the Federation, who has the power to discontinue the case, could be used to release Kanu.
Ozekhome argued that the president didn’t have to wait for the Supreme Court decision to do the right thing.
He ended his speech by asking Buhari to order Kanu’s release on “bended knees.”
