Ohanaeze Demands Justice as Nnamdi Kanu Spends 4 Years in Custody
As the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), enters its fourth year, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has renewed its call for his immediate release, appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released over the weekend, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ezechi Chukwu, decried the continued incarceration of Kanu, who was arrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria on June 27, 2021, under controversial circumstances.
“June 27, 2025, marks four years since the unlawful arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya before his forceful extradition to Nigeria,” Chukwu stated. “His continued detention without a conclusive judicial resolution casts a long shadow over the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system.”
Ohanaeze criticized the legal basis of Kanu’s extradition and ongoing detention, arguing that both processes lacked due process and moral justification. The group warned that the situation raises questions about Nigeria’s adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights.
“Given that the judiciary is a fundamental arm of government, Kanu’s prolonged custody reflects poorly on Nigeria’s commitment to legal norms, human dignity, and equality before the law,” Chukwu added.
He expressed concern over what he described as the government’s disregard for judicial fairness, saying the global community is closely observing how long the Nigerian state intends to delay justice.
“It is troubling that someone extradited through questionable means has been held for four years without clear legal closure. The rationale for such extended detention remains unconvincing,” the statement continued.
Ohanaeze called on President Tinubu to leverage his constitutional powers and diplomatic channels to secure Kanu’s release. The group emphasized that doing so would send a powerful message of reconciliation, fairness, and national unity.
“In the spirit of equity, justice, and inclusiveness, we urge President Tinubu to act decisively and bring an end to this prolonged and contentious chapter,” Chukwu concluded.
