World enews: Why Nnamdi Kanu May Not Be Released By Abuja Court Today

Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and the proscribed group, IPOB, has said he cannot determine whether his client will be released today (Thursday).

Ejimakor described reports claiming that Kanu will be freed today as “premature”.

Ejimakor said this in an interview with BBC News Pidgin on Thursday.

He stated that he is not happy with the rumours bandied about by most IPOB separatists. He said since the ultimate decision belongs to the court, they cannot confidently say whether Kanu would be released today (Thursday) or not.

Another member of the legal team, however, said they were hoping that the IPOB leader would be released due to the strength of their application and arguments.

He said, “We don’t know whether Nnamdi Kanu will be released today or not. Of course, we want him released but the ultimate decision belongs to the court. It is for the court to determine whether our application is suitable enough but we are hoping and praying, we have hope.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had said on Friday, November 19 that he would consider the unconditional release of the IPOB leader as sought by elder statesmen from the South-East.

Buhari had, however, added that such a request was a difficult option to weigh but assured that he would give it a thought.

Buhari said this while receiving a group under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats, led by the First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi, at State House, Abuja.

Amaechi, a nonagenarian, had described the situation in the South-East as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses have collapsed, education crumbling, and fear everywhere.

The IPOB leader is currently standing trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja for terrorism-related charges.

Kanu was illegally arrested in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria in June.