The senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the Federal Government to adopt a political approach in resolving the legal issues surrounding the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Kalu made the appeal while reacting to Kanu’s recent conviction by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges. He explained that he has been in continuous discussions with the government on ways to address the matter, stressing that a political resolution remains the most effective path to lasting peace.
According to him, “Nnamdi Kanu’s issue requires a political solution. I have been working with the Federal Government to find a way forward, and the decision of Justice Omotosho should not be questioned.”
The former Abia State governor noted that although Kanu’s legal team is preparing to appeal the judgment, he plans to engage the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to properly brief the President on the broader implications of the case.
Kalu lamented the impact of IPOB’s activities on the South-East, stating that many residents lost their jobs, businesses, and even their lives due to unrest linked to the group. He also recalled the pressure he mounted on former President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside the efforts of Mamman Daura and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, which led to Kanu’s release in April 2017.
He stressed that while many sympathize with Kanu, the pain and losses suffered by numerous Igbo families should not be overlooked.
Last Thursday, Justice James Omotosho sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on counts one, four, five, and six, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge further issued a 20-year sentence on Count Three and a five-year sentence on Count Seven, all to run concurrently. The court held that Kanu’s actions, including issuing threats and ordering sit-at-home directives, amounted to acts of terrorism against the Nigerian state.
Meanwhile, Aloy Ejimakor, a consultant to the IPOB leader, has vowed to challenge the life sentence, insisting that the legal team will proceed to the Court of Appeal to contest the ruling.
