•Atiku and Sowore
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined the campaign of former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
In a post on his official X account yesterday, Sowore had challenged the Labour Party chieftain, Peter Obi, Atiku, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, and other notable personalities in the South-East to march to Aso Rock for Kanu’s release.
“I challenge every politician or person of good conscience from the Southeast who says they want Nnamdi Kanu released to stop the rhetoric. Time for action is now. Let’s march to Aso Rock Villa,” he said, adding that he will set aside his differences with some politicians for one cause, Kanu’s release.
Reacting today, Atiku said: “The continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law. Defying court orders that granted him bail is an abuse of power and an assault on justice.
“I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by Yele Sowore for his immediate release or due prosecution.
“We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as yet another wound this nation refuses to heal.”
Meanwhile, Sowore, in another post today, said: “We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, it is October 20 at 7AM!”
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday adjourned the trial of the Biafra agitator on terrorism-related charges to October 16, following the inability of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to conclude its assessment of his health condition, reports The Guardian.
At the previous sitting, Justice Omotosho directed the NMA President to constitute a panel of medical experts to examine Kanu’s health status.
Kanu’s IPOB is a separatist movement advocating secession from Nigeria. Kanu was arrested on June 27, 2021, in Kenya before being repatriated to Nigeria.
He was initially arrested on 14th October, 2015, on an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms, and improper importation of goods, among others.
