Biafra: Soludo, Utomi Visit Nnamdi Kanu In Kuje Prison, Demand For His Immediate Release

By Philips Sunday

Abuja, (AN24)  – Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chukwuma Soludo and Patrick Utomi, a professor of economics, paid a courtesy visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in Kuje Maximum Prison, Abuja on Tuesday, February 28.

During the visit, Soludo demanded the “immediate” release of incarcerated Biafran leader who has been in detention since October, 2015.

The Igbo leaders under the aegis of ‘Nzuko Umunna’, a pan-Igbo group, also called for the release of his colleagues who are in jail.

Delivering the statement of the group in Abuja on Tuesday, Soludo condemned the killing of IPOB members in the south-east, even as he called for Mr. Kanu release.

Soludo said: “We are a delegation of Nzuko Umunna, a pan-Igbo group.

‎”We visited Nnamdi Kanu to hear his own point of view as well as share our own point of view with him.

“We believe that Nigeria has the potential to be great, and like most countries has its own challenges.

“Nigeria has never been more divided than now. Most discerning patriots have come to the conclusion that Nigeria as currently structured is destined to be a failed state.

“It is our considered view that most of the agitation is in response to a looting elite. We do not condone violence.

“We note that in 2015 Nigerians voted for change. As the ruling party, the APC has it duty to deliver to the Nigerian people.

“So far APC seems to have abandoned its cardinal duty to Nigeria.

‎”We are in a state of emergency at all levels.

‎”We demand the urgent release of Nnamdi Kanu, and his colleagues as part of the process of engineering a new Nigeria.

“No citizen of Nigeria deserves the treatment that is being meted to Nnamdi Kanu and his colleagues‎. Nnamdi Kanu is not above the law, and he should not be put below the law.”

In a similar vein, Utomi‎, who responded to questions on behalf of the group, spoke against the secret trial of Kanu, saying “it has no basis at all”.

A federal high court in Abuja had ordered the secret trial of Kanu.

On his part, Utomi said the group would approach the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the matter if it became necessary.

‎According to him, ”We will do everything that is necessary, we will internationalise the issue. When you incarcerate Nnamdi Kanu, it is not he that is incarcerated but the people of conscience,” he said.

“We are asking that all citizens get a fair share under the law. We are looking at the genuine reform of Nigeria

“We are going to be consistent. We will keep engaging all stakeholders on a global level. It is time we keep talking about these things.” Utomi added.

Meanwhile Kanu alongside his co-accused, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are facing an eleven-count charge of treasonable felony, brought against them by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Although they have been granted bail twice by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari’s led government has refused to obey the court orders raising doubts over the possibility of Mr. Kanu and his co-accused regaining freedom anytime soon.