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The lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in Abia State, Obi Aguocha, has called on former President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene to secure the release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
Recall that Kanu was arrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in July 2021 after he fled the country in the wake of the military raid on his home during the tenure of Buhari.
Kanu who has remained in detention since 2021 is facing many charges bordering on treasonable offences.
Aguocha, as part of efforts to commence a dialogue for the political solution to the release of the IPOB leader, visited Buhari in his Daura country home on Saturday.
A statement by Aguocha’s media team said, “For the missteps, utterances, and ill gestures of the past, especially on the part of my constituent and brother, Nnamdi Kanu, I am deeply sorry.”
Aguocha said a political solution would not only address the grievances but would promote greater understanding and unity within the country.
Buhari had through a broadcast medium said he would not interfere with the judiciary concerning Kanu's trial.
He had said, “There is one institution that I wouldn’t interfere with, that is the judiciary. Kanu’s case is with the judiciary but what I wonder is when Kanu was safely in Europe, abusing this administration and mentioning too many things, I thought he wanted to come and defend himself on the accusations.
“So, we are giving him an opportunity to defend himself in our system, not to be abusing us from Europe as if he was not a Nigerian. Let him come here with us and then criticise us here. Nigerians know that I don’t interfere with the judiciary, let him be listened to. But those who are saying that he should be released, no, we cannot release him.”
However, the Sunday statement by Aguocha’s media office quoted Buhari as commending the lawmaker for his humility and dedication to the cause of his people.
