Nnamdi Kanu political solution receives major backing as 44 lawmakers urge President Tinubu to halt prosecution and begin national dialogue

A coalition of 44 members of the House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt a political solution to the prolonged detention of Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, warning that Nigeria’s stability requires urgent, pragmatic engagement.

Also read: Nnamdi Kanu seeks halt to terrorism judgment

The lawmakers, drawn from both the North and South, said a decisive political intervention was now essential to easing insecurity and longstanding grievances in the South-East.

Operating under the banner of the Concerned Federal Lawmakers for National Unity, the group submitted a two-page letter and a formal resolution to the President, asking him to exercise his constitutional powers to discontinue Kanu’s prosecution.

They argued that sustained political engagement offered a more meaningful pathway to peace than a continued courtroom confrontation.

The lawmakers specifically requested that the President direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw the Federal Government’s case against Kanu.

The letter was signed by Ikenga Ugochinyere, Obi Aguocha, Murphy Osaro, Peter Akpanke and Mudashiru Lukman, alongside other co-signatories including Paul Nnamechi, Dominic Okafor, Afam Ogene, Emeka Chinedu, Chimaobi Sam and Mascot Ikwechegh.

In the resolution, they said their appeal followed a strategic closed-door meeting focused on national healing and reconciliation.

They referenced court rulings and international tribunal decisions that had called for Kanu’s release and highlighted escalating insecurity in the South-East since 2015, which they stressed had worsened significantly from 2021.

The lawmakers wrote that the growing public support for ending Kanu’s prosecution underscored the need for a “fair and lasting resolution” anchored on dialogue rather than force.

They expressed confidence that President Tinubu would treat their request with seriousness and reaffirmed their support for his administration’s broader efforts to strengthen unity across the federation.

Kanu’s legal journey has spanned nearly a decade. Arrested in 2015 on charges including treasonable felony, he was granted bail in 2017 before fleeing the country following a military raid on his Abia home—an incident IPOB claims was an attempt on his life.

After resurfacing abroad, he continued broadcasting pro-Biafra messages until his interception in Kenya and return to Nigeria in 2021.

His re-arrest ignited renewed agitation in the South-East, triggering sit-at-home orders and violent disruptions associated with IPOB factions.

The Federal High Court in Abuja is scheduled to deliver judgment on 20 February 2025 after Kanu declined to open his defence, marking a critical point in the long-running legal battle.

In a separate engagement on Tuesday, President Tinubu emphasised that his reform agenda spans multiple sectors, including expanded fibre-optic rollout and strengthened security efforts aimed at improving opportunities for young Nigerians.

He thanked humanitarian agencies for their work in supporting victims of terrorism.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Finance Wale Edun said Nigeria’s youthful median age informed the government’s reforms, which are designed to widen participation and create growth pathways for young people.

Prince Edward, Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, hailed Nigeria’s reforms for attracting global attention and announced that 320 young Nigerians would be honoured at upcoming Lagos award events.

He commended Edun for championing youth-focused initiatives, while key dignitaries—including British High Commissioner Sir Richard Montgomery and Award Secretary-General Martin Houghton-Brown—attended the event.

Also read: Nnamdi Kanu loses right to defence in terrorism trial

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award remains a prominent non-formal education platform dedicated to building resilience, civic responsibility and life skills among young people across the world.