Nnamdi Kanu Insists on Innocence, Rejects Appeals for Clemency

Nnamdi Kanu Insists on Innocence, Rejects Appeals for Clemency

Bold Declaration Amidst Calls for Release

Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has firmly asserted that no one should be begging the Nigerian government for his release, as he has committed no crime. Detained since 2021, Kanu maintains that his continued incarceration is a violation of his fundamental rights and should be challenged legally, not through appeals for mercy.

Legal Grounds for Release

Kanu's legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, emphasized that the call for Kanu's release should be based on legal compliance rather than an act of clemency. Ejimakor pointed out that both a Federal High Court in Nigeria and international tribunals have declared Kanu's detention unlawful. He stated, "The matter of releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not an act of mercy, pardon, executive clemency, or even amnesty. Instead, it should be an act of simply complying with the subsisting Federal High Court judgment that declared his detention as unconstitutional or even the extant international tribunal decisions that separately declared his detention as unlawful."

Self-Determination as a Right

Kanu has consistently argued that his struggle for self-determination is an inalienable right guaranteed under the laws of Nigeria, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Kenya. He believes that the criminalization of his efforts is a misinterpretation of his actions. Ejimakor reiterated Kanu's stance, saying, "Self-determination, which is the real issue that got twisted to suddenly become a high crime, is an inalienable right guaranteed under the laws of Nigeria, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Kenya."

Despite Kanu's firm stance, there have been widespread calls for his release from various groups and individuals. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, along with other South East leaders, has urged President Bola Tinubu to facilitate Kanu's release. However, Kanu has instructed his legal team to clarify that such appeals should focus on the rule of law rather than mercy or pardon.

Upholding the Rule of Law

Kanu's counsel has warned that calls for his pardon could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt, which could embolden the executive branch and the courts to continue what he described as an unlawful prosecution. Ejimakor advised those desiring Kanu's release to emulate the language and tact used by groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze, the World Igbo Congress, and international organizations that have insisted he has committed no offense.

Nnamdi Kanu's unwavering stance on his innocence and the need for legal compliance highlights the ongoing struggle for self-determination and the rule of law in Nigeria. As the calls for his release continue, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served and that Kanu's rights are upheld.