The legal counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has stated that no one should plead for his release, as he has committed no crime.
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lawyer, made this known in a statement issued on Saturday, emphasizing that his release should be based on judicial compliance rather than an act of clemency or political favor.
Ejimakor pointed out that both a Federal High Court in Nigeria and international tribunals had declared Kanu’s detention unlawful.
He argued that his continued incarceration violates legal rulings that should be upheld.
According to him, the issue is not about granting pardon or executive mercy but about obeying court judgments that have ruled Kanu’s detention unconstitutional.
Kanu remains firm in his stance that he should not be subjected to pleas for release since he has committed no offense under Nigerian or international law.
His lawyer reiterated that self-determination, which is the basis of Kanu’s agitation, is a right enshrined in Nigerian law, as well as international treaties recognized by the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Kenya.
Ejimakor warned that calls for pardon or clemency might give the impression that Kanu is guilty of a crime, which could embolden authorities to continue what he described as an unjust prosecution.
He urged Kanu’s supporters to take a more strategic approach similar to that of groups such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the World Igbo Congress.
These organizations, along with several lawmakers and international bodies, have insisted that Kanu has committed no crime and should be released unconditionally.
Instead of begging for clemency, he advised that pressure should be mounted to ensure the government upholds the rule of law.
Ejimakor further argued that if anyone should be seeking forgiveness, it is the Nigerian government, which, according to him, violated international laws by forcefully extraditing Kanu.
He described the act as a serious breach of legal and diplomatic protocols that should not be ignored.
The call for Kanu’s release has continued to gain momentum, with several political figures advocating for his freedom.
Recently, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to facilitate Kanu’s release as part of efforts to restore peace in the South-East.
Meanwhile, Kanu is scheduled to appear before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, following his request for the transfer of his case to the South-East if no other judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it apart from Justice Nyako.