South-East Governors to Meet FG Over Nnamdi Kanu

• The South-East Governors’ Forum will engage with the federal government to secure the release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
• The Forum reviewed the South East Security and Economic Summit report, aiming to implement security and economic integration plans

On Tuesday, the South-East Governors’ Forum announced that they will engage with the federal government to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This decision was part of a communiqué issued after a meeting in Enugu.

The meeting included governors Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Dr. Alex Otti (Abia), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and the host, Governor Peter Mbah (Enugu). Other stakeholders were also present.

The communiqué stated, “The Forum commiserated with the governments and people of Abia State, Ebonyi State, Imo State, the South East, Nigeria, and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu’s family on the demise of His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

“The Forum received a delegation from former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, and His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, Obi of Onitsha, who came on a solidarity visit.

“The Forum deliberated on the reviewed report of the South East Security and Economic Summit held in Owerri on September 28, 2023. We agreed to implement the report’s security and economic integration aspects and affirmed our desire to put actionable plans on the key issues discussed.

“The Forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss pressing issues concerning the South East Region.

“We also resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”

Nnamdi Kanu has been detained since his repatriation from Kenya in June 2021 and re-arraigned on terrorism-related allegations. On Monday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed Kanu’s suit against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Department of State Services (DSS), and its Director-General. Justice Omotosho ruled that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to support his claims of fundamental rights violations by the DSS and its DG, Yusuf Bichi. However, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimako, vowed to appeal the decision.