Fifty members of the House of Representatives from various political parties under the auspices of Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East, have petitioned President Bola Tinubu to invoke Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
The lawmakers appealed to the President in a three-page letter dated June 19, 2024. They urged Tinubu to commence a presidential peace programme to address all of the difficulties and challenges plaguing the Southeast.
They urged the President to direct Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to invoke his nolle prosequi powers under Section 174(1) of the Constitution and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, resulting in Kanu's release from detention and the termination of his trial.
According to the lawmakers, it is long overdue and would play an important role in facilitating much-needed discussions on peace restoration and inclusivity, as well as addressing the causes that sparked the agitations. They recalled that the President offered this gesture through the office of the Attorney General in the case involving Sunday Igboho and Omoyele Sowore, where he was charged with treasonable felony in Charge No. FHC/ABJ CR/235/2019.
The concerned legislators highlighted that the Southeast is in chaos and insecure for an array of reasons, including a breakdown in security, a drop in economic activity, families abandoning their homes, and businesses folding. They suggested that resolving the issues in the zone would shift the narrative and demonstrate the President's commitment to maintaining the principles of rule of law, justice, and fairness, which are the foundation of democracy.
They also argued that engaging in discussion rather than extended political and legal persecution will open the path for peace initiatives, economic revitalization, and a renewed sense belonging among Southeast citizens.
