Aloy Ejimakor, the special counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to implement the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Working Group’s order to release Kanu. In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejimakor urged President Tinubu not to follow the path of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, who ignored the UN’s directive to release the IPOB leader.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest in June 2021. In July 2022, the UNHRC, in a landmark opinion, called on Buhari’s administration to free Kanu, in addition to ensuring a pathway to compensation for his illegal rendition from Kenya to Nigeria.
Ejimakor emphasized that the Nigerian government is obligated to comply with international laws and treaties, as the country is a member of the United Nations. He stated, “Nigeria is duty-bound to implement this decision in its black letters and spirit. And it was expected to do so promptly.”
The lawyer also noted that despite the prolonged detention of Kanu, which has now lasted over three years, it is not too late for the current administration to act. Ejimakor further asserted that President Tinubu does not need a court order to release Kanu, urging him to grant the IPOB leader his freedom in line with international mandates.
Kanu’s legal team has continued to demand his release, citing the lack of legal justification for his ongoing detention.
