“AVID Urges Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu, Cites Multiple Legal Rulings”
The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) have addressed an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In their letter, signed by AVID President Dr. Sylvester Onyia and Secretary Dr. Godson Obiagwu, the group called on the Nigerian government to comply with numerous court rulings and international directives that have declared Kanu’s detention illegal.
The veterans’ request is based on multiple legal rulings, as well as international human rights decisions, which have condemned Kanu’s continued detention and his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021. These rulings, the letter highlights, all call for Kanu’s release and the cessation of his unlawful detention.
AVID pointed to a significant ruling by the Federal High Court of Nigeria on October 26, 2022, which declared that Kanu’s arrest and detention were illegal. The court also condemned the Nigerian government for unlawfully extraditing Kanu from Kenya, noting that his continued detention violated his fundamental human rights. Despite this ruling, Kanu remains imprisoned, a situation AVID describes as unconstitutional and a blatant disregard for Nigeria’s judicial system.
The letter also referenced the Supreme Court’s December 2023 decision, which, while remanding Kanu’s case for trial, acknowledged the questionable circumstances of his detention. The court condemned the military invasion of Kanu’s home, which forced him to flee Nigeria, and criticized the subsequent attempts to rearrest and extradite him under the false claim of “jumping bail.”
The United Nations Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also weighed in on the matter, issuing an opinion in July 2022 that called for Kanu’s immediate release and compensation for his unlawful extradition. As a member of the United Nations and a signatory to international human rights treaties, AVID stressed that Nigeria is legally obligated to adhere to these directives, but the government has failed to do so, undermining its credibility on the global stage.
Beyond the legal and human rights aspects, AVID warned that Kanu’s continued detention has become a political issue that requires urgent attention from President Tinubu. The group urged the president to restore Kanu’s bail or discontinue his prosecution entirely, emphasizing that the matter now transcends the judicial system and falls squarely within the executive’s domain.
The letter concludes with an appeal to President Tinubu’s sense of justice, urging him to uphold the rule of law and immediately order Kanu’s release. AVID warned that ignoring court rulings and international directives would set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy and judicial integrity.
AVID also highlighted that resolving the matter could ease tensions in Nigeria’s southeastern region, where Kanu’s detention has fueled unrest. By acting decisively, President Tinubu has an opportunity to prevent further division and instability.
In their plea, AVID stressed the urgency of the situation and emphasized that the president’s response would be closely watched by both the nation and the international community. The group’s letter serves not only as a legal argument but as a moral call for justice, with AVID urging swift action to rectify what it views as a grave injustice.
“While thanking you for your anticipated sound discretion in halting this grave injustice, please permit us to also assure you of our abiding regards for your high office,” AVID stated.
As the debate over Nnamdi Kanu’s fate continues to unfold, AVID’s open letter adds to the mounting pressure on the Nigerian government to comply with judicial and international mandates, leaving President Tinubu at the center of this growing call for justice.
