Veteran politician and outspoken Nigerian, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to not only accept the verdict of the Court of Appeal that acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in the interest of peace and national unity, but also extend pardon to other detainees who are facing similar charges that are currently in various Correctional Facilities across the country.

The Ojeozi Ndigbo, Chekwas who expressed joy over the Court of Appeal ruling, discharging Kanu yesterday, said in a statement, “I join millions of Nigerian citizens and concerned Diaspora Communities in the joy of the well considered judgment of the Court of Appeal that discharged and acquitted the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday, 13th October, 2022. I commend the 3 Justices of the Court of Appeal who demonstrated courage, forthrightness, erudition and dispassion in delivering this historic judgment”.

Speaking further over the development, he said, “Similarly, I appreciate the commitment, resilience, discipline, diligence and admirable professionalism of the team of the learned Counsel that defended Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“It is with every sense of responsibility and patriotism that I urge and indeed appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, to accept the verdict of the Court of Appeal in the interest of peace and national unity.

“I further appeal to the President to sieze the moment and use his special presidential dispensation to extend pardon to other detainees who are facing similar charges that are currently in various Correctional Facilities across the country. As we await the due compliance of the Federal Government with the judgment of the Court of Appeal by promptly releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS facility, I fervently appeal to the jubilant population of the Nigerian society to celebrate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's freedom responsibly.

“The release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will definitely usher in, a new era of calm and security of life and property, especially in the Southeast and South South geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“One immediate benefit of the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the automatic stoppage of the economically debilitating stay-at-home, every Monday of the week in the Southeast geopolitical zone.

“Similarly the criminals who have been operating under the cover of IPOB pretending to be freedom fighters, will now be isolated for who they truly are. It is fortuitous that the Appeal Court judgment is coming at the verge of the electioneering period in our Country. At least the security concerns of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would be reduced to the barest minimum in the South East and South South geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria have everything to gain and nothing to lose by the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The time for President Muhammadu Buhari to show magnanimity and leadership in the vexed issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is now”.

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