By Abubakar Yunusa
The family of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected calls by the Nigerian Consultative Forum (NCF) for President Bola Tinubu to grant him amnesty, insisting that Kanu is innocent and should be released unconditionally.
In a statement issued by Prince Emmanuel Kanu on behalf of the family and made available to Peoples Daily on Monday, the NCF’s proposal was described as “reprehensible, defamatory, and legally indefensible.”
Recall at a press briefing in Abuja over the weekend, NCF Chairman, Dede Uzor Uzor, and Secretary-General, Dr. Frank Udemadu, had urged the federal government to extend amnesty to both Abba Kyari, the former police officer facing drug and money laundering charges, and Kanu.
But the Kanu family dismissed the comparison as scandalous. “This scandalous conflation of a globally recognized political prisoner with an individual accused of heinous crimes is not merely offensive—it is a calculated act of defamation, an affront to justice, and a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law,” Prince Emmanuel stated.
According to the family, Kanu has no need for amnesty since he was already acquitted by the Court of Appeal. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was discharged and acquitted by the Nigerian Court of Appeal, a decision rooted in the jurisdictional nullity of his unlawful rendition.
“Under Section 36(9) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, an acquittal by a superior court of record is final and inviolable, even by the Supreme Court. The suggestion of ‘amnesty’ for an innocent man is an insult to justice and a mockery of Nigeria’s constitutional framework,” the statement noted.
The family further criticized the Supreme Court’s later decision to remand Kanu, describing it as a violation of the constitution. “The Supreme Court’s subsequent decision to remand Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for trial is a flagrant violation of constitutional law, a criminal desecration of Nigeria’s judiciary and a betrayal of democratic principles,” the statement added.
On the attempt to equate Kanu with Abba Kyari, the family said it was “an international disgrace.
“Abba Kyari faces allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering..with full legal avenues to defend himself. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by contrast, is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, the largest peaceful self-determination movement in Africa.
“To equate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with Kyari is not just intellectually dishonest—it is a deliberate attempt to tarnish a global symbol of peaceful resistance,” Prince Emmanuel stressed.
The family issued a global appeal to world powers, human rights organizations, and foreign missions to intervene in Kanu’s case.
“The world cannot stand idly by while Nigeria’s government undermines the rule of law and erodes its credibility on the global stage. This is not a matter of political expediency—it is a test of the international community’s commitment to justice, sovereignty, and human rights,” the statement declared.
Prince Kanu vowed that the family will not relent in the struggle for his release. “The Kanu Family stands resolute: justice must prevail. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be freed now, and those responsible for his persecution must be held accountable.
“The world is watching, and history will judge those who remain silent in the face of this injustice,” he said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
