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* “Nnamdi Kanu Gave Me The Go-Ahead To Talk On His Behalf With FG”
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Former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Friday met the detained
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in an effort to
broker a political solution to his trial for alleged treason.
Mr. Kanu was arrested by the operatives of the State Security Service on
October 14 and was charged alongside three others, David Nwawuisi,
Benjamin Madubugwu and Chidiebere Onwudiwe, with treasonable felony.
After the meeting, Mr. Kalu, who defected recently to the ruling All
Progressives Congress, told journalists in Abuja that the detainees had
given him the “go-ahead to talk on their behalf” with the Federal
Government.
The former governor was optimistic that supporters of Mr. Kanu would now
be more cooperative with the authorities, following his discussion with
their leader.
He said the discussion will form the basis for an interface between the Federal Government and Mr. Kanu.
He added that the planned talk would have the view to end Mr. Kanu’s trial.
“I came to talk to him to talk to his supporters. I think they will have
a change of attitude. We are all Nigerians. If both himself and the
Federal Government are genuinely interested, we can come to a common
ground. It is a possibility,” said Mr. Kanu.
On the decision of the Federal High Court hearing the case against Mr.
Kanu and his colleagues to grant partial protection to prosecution
witnesses, Mr. Kalu said the practice has long existed.
“The protection of witnesses is nothing new in law. We can do that but
it may not get to that stage; if we talk to each other well. It is
possible to settle out of court if both parties are realistic.
“Now he has given me the go-ahead to talk on his behalf. And if I can
speak on his behalf, then the process will begin; and if things go as
they ought to, we might not get to the stage of having to require
protection of witnesses.
“If he trusts me and the Federal Government trusts me, I don’t see how
this will not work. I know the government well. I am a member of the
ruling party. So I can use my position well,” Mr. Kalu said.
The former governor explained that his visit was in line with the United
Nations’ charter on human rights and in furtherance of his duty to the
state he once governed.
“My visit to Kanu is in compliance with the United Nation’s charter that, anyone who is in prison should frequently be visited.
“I decided to come and visit him as a younger brother and as a former
governor of Abia State; once you become a governor, you have a duty to
always protect your people.
Mr. Kanu and the three other members of IPOB are being tried at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
The court had on December 17, 2015 ordered the SSS to release Mr. Kanu
unconditionally. But that ruling, delivered by Justice Adeniyi Ademola
who is being accused of fraud and is currently being prosecuted, was
upturned by another judge, John Tsoho, in January.
Shortly after the ruling refusing him bail, Mr. Kanu declared no
confidence in Mr. Tsoho’s impartiality, forcing the judge to withdraw
from the matter.
Subsequently, the case was transferred to another judge, Binta Nyako.
Mrs. Nyako also refused the same bail application for the defendant on
December 1.
- Premium Times
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