Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has called on President Bola Tinubu to implement the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group’s directive to release Kanu.
Ejimakor urged Tinubu not to repeat the actions of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, who ignored the UN’s 2022 order to release Kanu and provide him with compensation for his arrest and rendition from Kenya.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejimakor emphasized Nigeria’s obligation to adhere to international laws and treaties as a member of the United Nations.
“Nigeria is duty-bound to implement this decision in its black letters and spirit, and it was expected to do so promptly. Nonetheless, it is never too late to act,” he said, highlighting that Kanu has endured over three years in detention without any legal justification.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021. The UNHRC Working Group had previously issued a landmark opinion in July 2022, directing the Nigerian government to release him and ensure his compensation.
Ejimakor reiterated that Tinubu does not require a court order to release Kanu, urging the president to take decisive action. “Freeing Kanu now would not only affirm Nigeria’s commitment to international law but also address the prolonged and unjustifiable detention of a man who has endured immense hardship,” he stated.