44 Lawmakers Urge President Tinubu to Approve the Release of Nnamdi Kanu.

A coalition of 44 members of the House of Representatives, drawn from both the North and South, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to pursue a political solution to the ongoing detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The lawmakers, operating under the banner of Concerned Federal Lawmakers for National Unity, sent a two-page letter and formal resolution to the President, urging him to use his constitutional authority to halt Kanu’s prosecution and open the door to a broader national conversation aimed at restoring peace in the South-East.

They argued that deepening political engagement—rather than prolonged legal battles—offers the best chance of addressing rising insecurity and long-standing grievances in the region. The group specifically requested that the President direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to discontinue the Federal Government’s case against Kanu.

The letter was endorsed by Ikenga Ugochinyere, Obi Aguocha, Murphy Osaro, Peter Akpanke, Mudashiru Lukman, Paul Nnamechi, Dominic Okafor, Afam Ogene, Emeka Chinedu, Chimaobi Sam, Mascot Ikwechegh, Donatus Matthew, Ibe Osonwa, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and several others.

In their message, the lawmakers stated:

“Mr President, after a strategic closed-door meeting and broad consultations cutting across political and ethnic lines, we present this resolution concerning the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Driven by the urgent need for national healing and reconciliation—and considering previous government negotiations with militants and other agitator groups, as well as the increasing insecurity in the South-East since 2015, which worsened from 2021—we believe the time has come for a decisive political approach.

“We also note various domestic court rulings and international tribunal decisions calling for his release. With rising nationwide support for ending his prosecution, we respectfully ask that Your Excellency instruct the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw the charges against him and initiate an inclusive political dialogue to deliver a fair and lasting solution.”

The lawmakers expressed confidence that the President would give their request thoughtful consideration and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening national unity and stability.

Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on charges including treasonable felony. Granted bail in 2017, he later left the country after a military operation at his residence in Abia State—a development IPOB described as an attempt on his life. From abroad, he continued broadcasting messages advocating for a Biafran state.

In June 2021, he was intercepted in Kenya and returned to Nigeria to resume his trial. His re-arrest fueled heightened agitation in the South-East, leading to weekly sit-at-home directives and increased violence linked to IPOB activities.

Kanu’s long-running trial is now approaching conclusion, with the Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled to deliver judgment on Thursday, February 20, 2025, after he declined to open his defence.