From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has made it clear that he does not need any clemency from the executive but rather requires the government to uphold the rule of law.

In a statement made available by Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, the IPOB leader made this known when his legal team, led by Aloy Ejimakor, visited him at his DSS detention camp.

“During my visitation with Nnamdi Kanu yesterday (Friday), he made it abundantly clear that while he is deeply appreciative of the efforts and the widespread calls being made by well-meaning individuals and groups to secure his release, he, however, instructed his legal team to issue the following clarifications:

“The matter of releasing 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.

“Alternatively, the decision to free him from detention and discontinue his infamous prosecution can be made by simply resorting to the constitutional provisions that empower the Attorney-General of the Federation (on the directives of the President) to discontinue any prosecution.

“Nnamdi Kanu is adamant that nobody should plead or beg anybody on his behalf because he has committed no crime. 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.

“Thus, the perverse and unlawful criminalisation of his exercise of this right should not unwittingly be encouraged through some misguided appeals for pardon, clemency, or mercy. Thus, releasing Nnamdi Kanu is not an act of mercy or pardon but an act of abiding by the rule of law.

“In as much as those calling for his release are sincere, their calls for pardon or clemency may be misconstrued as a green light to the executive branch or even the courts to violate the rule of law by continuing to subject Nnamdi Kanu to a prosecution or trial that does not comport with the tenets of the Constitution and Nigeria’s treaty obligations.”

Kanu said that instead of begging, those desiring his release should emulate the language and tact used by Afenifere, Ohaneze, World Igbo Congress (WIC), ranking members of the National Assembly, American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self-Determination (based in America), the international community, and a host of others who, he said, have made it clear that Kanu deserves to be released because he has committed no offence known to law.

“If truth be told, it is Nigeria’s executive branch which extraordinarily renditioned Nnamdi Kanu that should show contrition for resorting to extraordinary rendition, which is a State crime under international law and the common law. If any begging must be done, it should be directed to the courts to conduct his cases and that of IPOB with the utmost impartiality and adherence to the rule of law, equity, and good conscience.”

The statement added that Kanu thanked everyone working assiduously towards the restoration of security, tranquillity, and good order in Igbo land.