By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Atiku Faults Nigeria’s Handling Of Nnamdi Kanu’s Case, Demands Immediate Release
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Nigerian government over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing it as a deep moral and constitutional failure that undermines Nigeria’s commitment to justice and democracy.
In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku said Kanu’s prolonged detention, despite several court orders granting him bail, represents “an open sore on the nation’s conscience” and a serious breach of the rule of law.
He called on authorities to either release Kanu immediately or ensure his prosecution follows due legal process.
Kanu has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, after his controversial arrest in Kenya and forced return to Nigeria.
His case has drawn widespread criticism from local and international rights groups, who argue that the government’s defiance of court rulings reflects a pattern of executive overreach.
Atiku expressed solidarity with activist Omoyele Sowore, who has been leading a civic campaign demanding that the federal government respect judicial orders on Kanu’s case.
“Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice,” Atiku declared. “We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as another wound this nation refuses to heal.”
On Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, adjourned Kanu’s trial to October 16, following the Nigerian Medical Association’s failure to submit a medical report on his health. The IPOB leader currently faces a seven-count charge linked to alleged terrorism.
Nnamdi Kanu, a British-Nigerian citizen, rose to prominence as the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) — a movement agitating for an independent state of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria.
He was first arrested in 2015 on charges of treasonable felony but was later granted bail in 2017.
His subsequent disappearance after a military raid on his home in Abia State fueled tensions across the South-East.
In June 2021, Kanu was rearrested in Kenya under disputed circumstances and extradited to Nigeria, an act his lawyers and international observers described as extraordinary rendition — a violation of international law.
Since then, his continued detention by the DSS, despite multiple court orders for his release, has intensified debates over Nigeria’s adherence to judicial independence, human rights, and the rule of law.
His case remains one of the most politically sensitive and legally complex in the country’s democratic history, symbolizing the long-running struggle between state authority and regional agitation for self-determination.
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