The family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has expressed disappointment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allegedly reneging on an agreement made before the 2023 general elections.
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the detained IPOB leader, claimed that Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, met with him in Abuja before the election with the approval of his father. According to Emmanuel, the meeting resulted in a promise that IPOB would not call for an election boycott in exchange for Kanu’s release if Tinubu won the presidency.
Speaking through a statement, Emmanuel disclosed:
“Before the last election, I received a message from a former governor that Seyi Tinubu wanted to meet me. I agreed, under the condition that our discussion would focus on my brother’s release. The meeting took place in Abuja with another person present as a witness.
“Seyi assured me that the meeting was sanctioned by his father and that any agreement reached would be binding. In good faith, we agreed that IPOB would not interfere with the election process. I relayed this understanding to my brother, and he reaffirmed IPOB’s commitment to not call for an election boycott or civil disobedience.”
Prince Emmanuel added that President Tinubu, during his campaign visit to Owerri, publicly promised to facilitate Kanu’s release if elected. IPOB, he noted, kept its side of the agreement by ensuring no calls for election boycotts.
However, nearly two years into Tinubu’s presidency, Kanu remains in detention. Emmanuel lamented that the legal system has failed to resolve his brother’s case, despite rulings in his favor by the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.
“The Appeal Court discharged him and ordered his release, a decision the Buhari administration ignored. The Supreme Court also ruled that his bail should not have been revoked, yet this has been disregarded,” he said.
Justice Binta Nyako, who previously presided over Kanu’s case, recused herself months ago, but no new judge has been assigned, further delaying proceedings.
“Nigerian courts rely on technicalities to stall proceedings. His detention lacks any legal basis, either in Nigeria or elsewhere in the world. It is deeply disappointing that those who claim to be honorable cannot keep their word,” Emmanuel concluded.
The allegations add another layer of controversy to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, a matter that has drawn national and international attention. As of now, the Presidency has not responded to the claims made by the Kanu family.