A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, has appealed to the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, the Nollywood actor-turned-politician expressed deep concern over the prolonged detention of Kanu, who has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021.
Okay News reports that Okonkwo said the Federal Government should consider a political solution to the case instead of keeping Kanu in custody without judgment.
He stated, “A nation that detains a human being for more than seven years. You have him in your custody and yet you couldn’t even reach a judgment as to the culpability of his crime is a nation that is failing in the dispensation of justice.”
The ADC chieftain noted that the continuous detention of Kanu without a verdict reflects a breakdown in Nigeria’s justice delivery system.
Citing Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, Okonkwo argued that justice delayed is justice denied.
He said, “When it comes to the issue of crime, the Constitution is very clear that the accused or defendant should be judged within a reasonable time. It is very unreasonable to keep a man in detention for almost seven years. What are you judging?”
Okonkwo further stressed that no individual should remain in custody for such a long time without a final judgment.
“In the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the legal processes have been abused. Nobody remains sane to be in jail for more than seven years while a case is being tried. People are frustrated, people believe that if you do not find anything against this man, release him or reach a political solution,” he said.
The actor and politician joined other prominent Nigerians such as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and activist Omoyele Sowore, who have also called for Kanu’s release.
