Kanu’s release will end insecurity in South-east – Ohanaeze

The Vice National President of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Damian Okeke-Ogene, has said that the judgment for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would restore security in the South-East region.

Okeke-Ogene said this in a chat with journalists, while reacting to the judgement of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, which upheld Kanu’s appeal, and discharged him.

The court cleared Kanu of charges of treasonable felony he had been facing.

Kanu was brought back to the country on June 27 last year. He was later arraigned by the Federal Government on a 15-count charge of treasonable felony and terrorism at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Meanwhile, at the Thursday’s proceeding, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Hanatu Sankey held that the charges preferred against the IPOB leader did not disclose the place, date, time and nature of the alleged offences before he was extradited to Nigeria in clear violation of international treaties.

The IPOB usually issued a sit-at-home order any day Kanu was to appear in court.

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People in the region also sit-at-home every Monday, in protest for the release of the IPOB leader.

Many criminal elements had capitalised on the situation to unleash mayhem on innocent people in the region.

Okeke-Ogene added that stories of unknown gunmen ravaging towns and villages in the region would be a thing of the past.

He said: “I believe that with this development, the activities of gunmen troubling the peace and development of the Igbo nation will come to an end. It is a victory for Nigerians and a landmark victory for the judiciary.

“We thank the lawyers, especially, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, for always being there for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We are happy.”