•Atiku, Nnamdi Kanu and Tinubu
The Concerned Igbo Ministers Commission (CIMC) has criticised Tinubu’s Presidency over what it described as an unwarranted attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for supporting calls for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued today and signed by its President General, Apostle Anthony Uzor, and Secretary General, Tony Osu, the group said the response from one of President Bola Tinubu’s aides showed “disregard for the rule of law, judicial authority, and Nigeria’s international obligations.”
According to the group, several judicial and international rulings have declared Kanu’s detention unlawful, adding that the government’s continued refusal to comply with those decisions undermines Nigeria’s justice system.
“The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on October 13, 2022, discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the group stated.
“The court ruled that his extraordinary rendition from Kenya stripped the Federal High Court of jurisdiction to try him. That decision remains final and binding.”
The ministers further argued that the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment, which allowed Kanu’s retrial, failed to properly apply Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution. The section provides that no individual shall be tried twice for an offence for which they have already been acquitted.
“The right against double jeopardy is fundamental and not subject to political discretion,” the statement added.
CIMC also recalled that the Federal High Court in Umuahia and the High Court of Kenya had both ruled that Kanu’s abduction and transfer to Nigeria breached his rights and violated international law.
“These judgments clearly demonstrate that Nigeria’s actions in the matter were irregular and inconsistent with both domestic and international legal standards,” the group said.
The ministers noted that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) had in July 2022 called for Kanu’s immediate release and compensation, urging Nigeria to comply with its human rights commitments as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Addressing the controversy surrounding Atiku Abubakar’s comments, CIMC described the presidency’s response as unnecessary and divisive.
“The former vice president only restated what the courts and international bodies have already established — that Kanu’s continued detention lacks legal justification,” the statement said.
“Attacking him for taking a position rooted in law and justice serves no national interest.”
The commission urged the federal government to comply with existing court and UN rulings by releasing Kanu without conditions and ensuring accountability for any rights violations linked to his rendition and detention.
“The law is clear, and the facts are settled. What remains is obedience,” CIMC emphasised.
“No amount of political statements can change the truth that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was discharged and acquitted.”
The group called on all leaders and stakeholders to “rise above politics and respect the supremacy of the law,” saying that doing so is essential for rebuilding public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
