Group demands release of 3 IPOB members detained along Kanu

Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo socio-cultural association has called on the Federal Government to release the three members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) detained along the freed leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

While an Abuja Federal High Court had on Tuesday granted Kanu bail on health grounds, three others, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, detained along him were not granted bail.

But in a statement on Saturday signed by Nzuko Umunna coordinator and secretary, Ngozi Odumuko and Paschal Mbanefo respectively, the group warned against any further abuse of the rights of Nnamdi Kanu.

While it said it was happy that Kanu has been released after a protracted detention by the Federal Government, Nzuko Umunna lamented the stringent conditions attached to the bail.

The statement read, “With great sense of responsibility, Nzuko Umunna join other well-meaning Nigerians to welcome the smooth perfection of the bail granted the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, despite the stringent conditions attached to the bail which have also been questioned by many Nigerians and some of which have the semblance of infringement of fundamental human rights of Mazi Kanu.

“As we welcome Kanu’s bail, we wish to state clearly that bail should be extended to his colleagues too, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, as has been previously granted by the court.

Read also: After one and half yrs in detention, Kanu finally leaves Kuje prison

“We also wish to commend the efforts of Kanu’s legal team and all those who have been steadfast and supportive in the call for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and his colleagues. Nzuko Umunna salutes the timely response of the South East Caucus of the Senate especially Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and also the two others who signed the bail bond for the release of Kanu, Tochukwu Uchendu and Jewish Chief High Priest, Immanuel-El Shalom Oka-Ben Madu.

“We appreciate the various groups and leaders who showed and have continued to show solidarity to Kanu and others in the course of this trial.

“Finally, it will be recalled that Nzuko Umunna has earlier called for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and his colleagues and we are not reneging on that until justice is seen to have been done.

“We wish to reiterate our stand that the rights of Kanu and his colleagues must be respected and that the government should as a matter of urgency look into the numerous issues that have given rise to the unprecedented upsurge in agitations in the South East part of the country instead of using brutal force to suppress peaceful protests, an action which would always be counterproductive.”

 

 

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