We, as Representatives of the five south East states in the House of Representatives, urge Mr President, to consider the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The South East caucus in the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to adopt an out-of-court arrangement for the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu, in order to restore peace in the region.
In a statement signed by the 43 lawmakers across the 5 States of the South East geopolitical zone on Wednesday July 3, 2024, they appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider releasing him and others in similar situations.
The signatories to the statement included the Deputy speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (Abia); the Deputy minority whip of the House, Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi (Anambra); the leader of the South East caucus, Rt. Hon. Enwo Igariwey (Ebonyi); the Deputy Leader of the caucus, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji (Enugu) and the Secretary of the caucus, Rt. Hon. Miriam Onuoha (Imo).
Others from Abia State are Hon. Aguocha Obinna, Hon. Nkwonta Chris, Hon. Onwusibe Ginger Obinna, Hon. Ogah Amobi Godwin, Hon. Alozie Munachim Ikechi, Hon. Mascot Ikwechegh and Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa.
From Anambra State, the signatories are Rt. Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Agbodike Paschal A., Hon. Okafor Dominic Ifeanyi, Hon. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe, Hon. Okonkwo Uchenna Harris, Hon. Orogbu Obiageli, Hon. Peter Uzokwe, Hon. Emeka Idu Godwin Obiajulu, Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara, Hon. Aniekwe Peter Udogalanya.
Similarly, those from Ebonyi State are Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Hon. Uguru Emmanuel, Hon. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, Hon. Nwabasi Joseph and Hon. Osi Kama Nkemkanma St.Andy.
From Enugu State, the lawmakers are Rt. Hon. Martins Oke, Rt. Hon. Atigwe Simon, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, Hon. Nnamchi Paul Sunday, Hon. Atu Chimaobi Sam, Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha and Hon. Obetta Mark Chidi.
In the same vein, the Imo State lawmakers are Rt. Hon. Chike Okafor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Chinedu, Hon. Okere Tochukwu Chinedu, Hon. Nwachukwu Canice Moore C, Hon. Dibiagwu Eugene Okechukwu, Hon. Nwogu Mathew, Hon. Ikeagwuonwu Onyinye U. M., Hon. Amadi Akarachi Etinosa and Hon. Harrison Nwadike.
The caucus said that the appeal for an out-of-court settlement of Kanu’s case was also supported by the federal high court, adding that a political solution is one of the quickest ways of bringing an end to the matter and in turn, restore peace in the South East region.
The statement read thus: A few days ago, at the resumed hearing of the case against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu currently pending at an Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, the issue of the out-of-court settlement of the matter was discussed between Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, and the Attorney General and minister of Justice.
“According to newspaper reports, and our verified accounts of proceedings from those who were in court on that day, the court displayed sufficient support for the out-of-court settlement of this case, being one of the acceptable canons of dispute resolution in our civil and criminal jurisprudence.
“As a Caucus of the House of Representatives from where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hails from, we have taken liberty, in consonance with parliamentary practice, to seek the support of other Regional caucuses of the House of Representatives, to achieve a quick and responsible resolution of the seemingly intractable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case, a legal impasse that is undoubtedly the missing puzzle in solving the lingering security conundrum in the south East of Nigeria.
“We, therefore, as Representatives of the five south East states in the House of Representatives, urge Mr President, to consider the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.
“We are convinced that a political settlement of this matter by way of out-of-court settlement, as canvassed before Justice Binta Nyako, is the quickest, most effective, and honorable way of closing this difficult and painful chapter of our national history.”