By CHARLES IWUOHA

A lawmaker, Hon. Obi Aguocha, representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, has raised a poser over the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOP) by the Federal Government.

According to Aguocha in a statement at the weekend, the offence of IPOP leader which is simply a struggle for the independent sovereignty of his people, is not more grievous than such similar offences whose champions have been granted freedom.

The lawmaker citing the cases of Omoyele Sawore, accused of treason, Sunday Igboho, leader of the secessionist Yoruba Nation and Godwin Emefiele, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), accused of financing terrorism, queried: “These four are citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria accused by the government of various alleged offences just like Kanu.”

“While Sowore and Igboho are free men by reason of the determination of the judiciary in protecting the rights of these citizens, and I must add, rightly so, Emefiele, also by the determination of the judiciary, has been granted bail in the sum of N50M, but is Nnamdi Kanu not a citizen?” Hon. Aguocha wondered.

Aguocha agrees that both Emefiele, Igboho and Sowore have constitutional rights to freedom but he is baffled that Nnamdi Kanu does not have a concomitant constitutional right to be granted bail wondering if the law is made differently for different segment of the society.

In the obvious continued breach of his fundamental rights as granted by the constitution, Aguocha therefore calls for his unconditional release from detention.

“The continued detention of Kanu makes it clear that there are one set of rules for other Nigerians from different zones and another for Igbos within the South East zone,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to demonstrate fairness and equity by extending same treatment to Kanu, saying: “I hereby appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to use his exalted good offices in ensuring the unconditional and immediate release of citizen Nnamdi Kanu as a demonstration of good faith in supporting the peaceful development of the South East and the wellbeing of Ndi Igbo.”

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