A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has urged the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stressing that a political solution is long overdue.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021—a situation that has continued to draw calls for his release from political and civil rights figures, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu and activist Omoyele Sowore.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Okonkwo, a lawyer and former presidential campaign spokesman, condemned Kanu’s prolonged detention and described it as a failure of Nigeria’s justice system.
“A nation that detains a human being for more than seven years—you have him in your custody and yet you couldn’t even reach a judgment as to the culpability of his crime—is a nation that is failing in the dispensation of justice,” he said.
Okonkwo cited Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, which upholds the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, arguing that the government’s inability to conclude Kanu’s trial within a reasonable time erodes public trust in the judiciary.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. When it comes to the issue of crime, the Constitution is very clear that the accused or defendant should be judged within a reasonable time. It is very unreasonable to keep a man in detention for almost seven years. What are you judging?” he questioned.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician maintained that keeping Kanu behind bars without a verdict violates the principles of fairness and due process.
“In the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the legal processes have been abused. Nobody remains sane to be in jail for more than seven years while a case is being tried. People are frustrated, people believe that if you do not find anything against this man, release him or reach a political solution,” he said.
What You Should Know
Kenneth Okonkwo joins a growing number of voices demanding Nnamdi Kanu’s release, advocating a political settlement rather than continued legal wrangling.
His comments echo mounting calls from Southeast leaders and activists urging the Tinubu administration to prioritise dialogue to ease regional tension.
