Abia North Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu has reiterated his commitment to finding a political solution to the ongoing legal battle involving Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and the Federal Government.
His remarks came during an interview on Sunday Politics.
The senator’s comments follow the recent conviction of Kanu by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on terrorism-related charges. Kalu stressed that resolving Kanu’s situation requires a political approach, noting that he has been actively engaging with the Federal Government on the matter. “The problem of Nnamdi Kanu is what we need to solve via a political process. I have been working with the Federal Government of Nigeria on how to solve this issue, and nobody should question the decision of Justice Omotosho,” he said.
Kalu explained that while Kanu’s legal team prepares to challenge the High Court ruling at the Appeal Court, he intends to reach out to the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, to advise the President on the matter. He emphasized that his involvement seeks to ensure that a balanced and fair resolution is reached.
The former governor of Abia State also lamented the human and economic toll of IPOB activities in the South-East, pointing out that several people have lost their jobs and livelihoods, and dozens of Igbos have been killed in the region due to the group’s actions.
Recalling past efforts, Kalu highlighted that he had personally applied pressure on then-President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate Kanu’s release in April 2017. He acknowledged the roles played by Mamman Daura and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami in securing Kanu’s release to face trial.
He added that while the release in 2017 was achieved, the ongoing legal proceedings continue to affect both Kanu and the South-East region. “I know the pressure I personally put on President Buhari before he was released in April 2017. Nobody is talking about the Igbo who were killed,” Kalu stated.