The Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), a socio-political activist group, has condemned the recent comments credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, over the ongoing trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, describing the remarks as “reckless” and “a direct assault on the rule of law.”

Reacting to Onanuga’s statement that Kanu’s treason trial “must proceed without interference,” the ILT said the presidential aide’s position was “deeply worrisome” and “suggestive of an already predetermined outcome in court.”

In a joint statement signed by its President, Prof. Elo Amucheazi, and Secretary, Prof. Jerry Chukwuokolo, the ILT warned that such utterances from a top presidential aide could erode public confidence in the judiciary and further inflame ethnic tensions in the country.

“We are startled by Bayo Onanuga’s statement in today’s newspapers where he declared that ‘Nnamdi Kanu is currently undergoing trial on treason charges that must proceed without interference.’ There is an extent to which societal cohesion should not be trifled with because doing so creates divides across the ethnic groups in any society,” the statement read.

The group said that the rule of law demands that all citizens be treated equally before the law, but lamented that this has not been the case with Nnamdi Kanu.

“Rule of Law stipulates that the laws of the land should be sacrosanct in treating all citizens equally. This is not the case with Nnamdi Kanu when compared with others like him,” the ILT stated.

Citing judicial precedents, the ILT noted that the treason charge against Kanu had already been dismissed by competent courts of law, including a High Court and the Court of Appeal, and that the Federal Government had never appealed those decisions.

“We remember that this charge against Kanu has been thrown out by a High Court, a Court of Appeal, and the Federal Government never appealed the judgment,” the statement noted.

The group also recalled that the Kenyan government had condemned Kanu’s abduction from the country and that the Kenyan High Court had declared his rendition to Nigeria illegal.

The ILT questioned the motives behind Onanuga’s remarks, suggesting that his tone implied foreknowledge of how the case would end.

“Now that His Lordship Hon. Justice Omotosho has agreed to handle the case, certain questions arise: is he Bayo Onanuga’s relation? Is Onanuga waiting for ‘his appropriate judgment’ as the court’s decision? Onanuga’s statement seems so assured of the outcome of the matter in court,” they said.

The ILT further urged President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship and heed the plea by Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, John Mbata, to release Kanu in the spirit of national unity and reconciliation.

“It would have been in the spirit of national cohesion and healing had the President listened to the plea to release Kanu, while granting clemency to the 137 people the nation forgave last week,” the group said.

Commending Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore for advocating a political solution to Kanu’s case, the ILT decried what it described as a “clear double standard” in the way the Nigerian government handles cases of self-determination activists compared to known criminals and bandits.

“Sunday Igboho, who committed a similar ‘offence of self-determination,’ has gotten his freedom, while a governor last Saturday attended the wedding of a bandit’s son. Bandits are pampered and offered money in this country, while activists like Kanu are prosecuted and refused treatment while undergoing trial,” the group fumed.

“This is certainly against natural justice, equity, fairness and the dictates of his fundamental human rights—especially when weighed against the Nigerian constitution where one is presumed innocent until convicted. This has left one wondering whether there are two different categories of citizens in Nigeria.”

The ILT also took aim at what it described as “the silence and apparent incapacity of the National Assembly” to perform its oversight role on such pressing issues.

“It is unfortunate that it appears that the National Assembly is incapacitated in oversight in this direction. Enough should be enough,” the statement concluded.

The group further condemned the ongoing destruction of properties belonging to Igbo in Lagos and questioned why such acts were being carried out with impunity.

“We are all witnesses to the unprecedented destruction of the properties of Ndigbo in Lagos with impunity. One wonders whether Nnamdi Kanu is not justified by all these in seeking self-determination.

“Can all these ignoble destructive actions of Governor Sanwo-Olu be considered as a continuation of the threat by HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, a former AIG, to drown Ndigbo in the lagoon? One wonders what such a highly placed police officer would have inflicted on Ndigbo while in service.”

The ILT insisted that Nigeria must choose between democracy and tyranny, warning that continued selective justice would push the nation closer to disintegration. (Daily Sun)