January 06, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said he will not interfere in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The President in an interview aired on Channels Television on Wednesday night, and monitored by THEWILL, said he would not interfere with the Judiciary.
Kanu is currently standing trial for treason and terrorism related charges .
THEWILL recalls that some Igbo elders led by Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, had on November 19, 2021, visited the President in Aso Rock and requested the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Buhari had said he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their demand though “a heavy one.”
However, when asked if he would release Kanu, President Buhari said: “We cannot release Nnamdi Kanu. There is no political solution to it. His case is for the judiciary. One of the things I promised myself is never to interfere with the jobs of the judiciary. I have given him the opportunity to defend himself.
“There is one institution that I wouldn’t interfere with, that is the judiciary, Kanu’s case is with the judiciary but what I wonder is when Kanu was safely in Europe, abusing this administration and mentioning too many things, I thought he wanted to come and defend himself on the accusations.
“So, we are giving him an opportunity to defend himself in our system, not to be abusing us from Europe as if he was not a Nigerian. Let him come here with us and then criticise us here. Nigerians know that I don’t interfere with the judiciary, let him be listened to. But those who are saying that he should be released, no, we cannot release him.
“There is a possibility of a political solution. If people behave themselves, all well and good but you can’t go to a foreign country and keep on sending incorrect economic and security problems (sic) against our country and thinking that you would not account for what you have been doing. Let him account for what he has been doing.
“Kanu has been insulting us. He has been given incorrect figures and comments against us. He needs to account for what he did.”
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