The family of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has openly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allegedly failing to honor an agreement reportedly made between his son, Seyi Tinubu, and the Kanu family regarding Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
According to reports, Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, issued a detailed statement on Thursday, alleging that an agreement was reached between him and Seyi Tinubu shortly before the 2023 general elections. The agreement was purportedly aimed at ensuring that IPOB would not boycott the elections in exchange for the release of Nnamdi Kanu after Bola Tinubu assumed office as president.
Prince Emmanuel claimed that during a meeting held in Abuja, which was sanctioned by President Tinubu, both parties discussed the terms extensively. This meeting was also reportedly attended by a third individual, invited by Prince Emmanuel to serve as a witness to the deliberations and to provide independent verification if necessary. During the meeting, Seyi Tinubu is said to have reassured Prince Emmanuel that any agreements reached would be binding on his father, who was at the time the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his statement, Prince Emmanuel recounted how he relayed the details of the meeting to Nnamdi Kanu, who reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring IPOB adhered to its long-standing tradition of not interfering with democratic processes, including elections. This commitment led to IPOB refraining from calling for any form of election boycott or civil disobedience during the 2023 polls. The group also actively countered dissenting voices within its ranks to maintain this stance, emphasizing its dedication to democratic values.
Prince Emmanuel further alleged that President Tinubu himself reiterated this commitment during a campaign visit to Owerri, where he publicly assured the audience that he would facilitate Nnamdi Kanu’s release if elected. These statements were taken as a reaffirmation of the agreement made with his son, Seyi Tinubu.
However, nearly two years into Tinubu’s presidency, Prince Emmanuel expressed profound disappointment, noting that his brother remains in detention despite these assurances. He described the situation as disgraceful, particularly in light of several court rulings that have favored Nnamdi Kanu. He highlighted the decision of the Appeal Court to discharge Kanu of the charges against him and the Supreme Court’s ruling that his bail should not have been revoked, both of which were ignored by the government. Additionally, he pointed out that Justice Binta Nyako, who previously presided over Kanu’s case, recused herself over three months ago, yet no new judge has been assigned to the matter.
The statement went on to criticize the Nigerian judicial system, accusing it of stalling the timely resolution of Kanu’s case through technicalities rather than addressing the matter on its merits. Prince Emmanuel emphasized that Kanu’s continued detention lacks any legal justification, both within Nigeria and internationally, stating: “The truth is that Nigerian courts cannot, will not, and do not have both the substantive and procedural jurisdiction to try him. His detention is without the backing of any known law in Nigeria or elsewhere in the world.”
Concluding his statement, Prince Emmanuel described the situation as a betrayal of trust, declaring: “It’s a shame that those who claim to be men of honour cannot honour their word.” He called on the government to take immediate steps to rectify the situation and honor the commitments made to the Kanu family, ensuring justice for Nnamdi Kanu and reaffirming the rule of law in Nigeria.
