Oxford, UK — Apex Igbo organisation in the United Kingdom, Ogbako Ndigbo UK, has once again called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally from the detention after he was illegal renditioned from Kenya on Sunday June 27th, 2021.
In a communique after it’s general meeting in Oxford, UK, the organization said the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite his acquittal by the Appellate court of Nigeria is an aberration to the liberty of a citizen as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The communique which was signed by the President Ogbako Ndi Igbo UK, Jude Chijioke Eze, Vice President Dr Daisy Nwaozuzu and Secretary General Kenneth Udeoka, said the repeated delays and re-arrangements by the Supreme court which quickly disposed of other cases brought before it recently, makes this process appear as a deliberate delay tactic to keep Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in jail perpetually.
Other signatories to the communique include: the Chairman Igbo Community Liverpool, Comrade Christian Chukwu; Chairman Oxford Igbo Union, Mazi Dozie Eluwa; Chairman Igbo Community London, Kenneth Udeoka Esq; Chairman Ndi Igbo North-East England Newcastle, Mazi Ken Uwakwe Odo; Chairman Ndi Igbo Leicestershire, Mazi Robert Ibe; Chairman Igbo Union, Milton Keynes, Uchenna Odunukwe Esq; Chairman Ndi Igbo Dundee, Barrister. Philip Enwegbara; Chairman Igbo Union Yorkshire England, Mazi Charles Ukandu; Ndi Igbo Community, Swindon, Christian Ogara; Igbo Community Essex , Prince Lotanna Chima; Chairman, Manchester, Dr Addy Lazz-Onyenobi; and Chairman, Igboamaka Edinburgh, Mr Ifeanyi Okoro.
Part of the communique reads
“Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria is signatory to states that: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law” Nigeria is thus expected to act within the international conventions which it has committed to and release Mazi Kalu whose human rights are being infringed upon by his illegal rendition and detention.
“It would be recalled that other political prisoners who champion the cause of their people peacefully like Mazi Kanu, have long been released by the Federal Government. In the same vein, it would be just to release Mazi Kanu as this will bring the long-awaited peace not only in Igboland which feel disenfranchised by his unlawful detention, but in Nigeria at large. This will be a true demonstration of the government’s promise of promoting equity and fairness for all.
“Ogbako Ndigbo therefore joins other Civil Rights groups, Human rights organisations, Governments especially the UK and other affiliated local/international organisations to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and all other political prisoners in the country . We believe that by doing so, the government will demonstrate their genuine interest at uniting the nation and ensuring that peace and justice reigns for all.”
