Northern Elders explain why Buhari should not release Nnamdi Kanu

President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) not to release Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

Recall that Buhari promised to consider a lighter resolution after meeting with Southeast elders, but was concerned that doing so would violate the principles of separation of powers between the Executive and the Judiciary.

In a statement signed by Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the forum’s Director of Publicity, the forum stated that there are no safe grounds for President Buhari to grant the request.

“The release of Nnamdi Kanu will cause serious harm to Nigeria, which is already beset by security and other challenges,” the statement said.

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Buhari was advised by Northern elders to follow the legal process and let Kanu’s trial run its course.

“We have carefully studied the request of Igbo Elders for President Muhammadu Buhari to terminate Nnamdi Kanu’s trial and release him unconditionally,” the statement said. It also took note of President Buhari’s response, which raised a number of serious concerns about the request as well as his commitment to consider it.

“The Forum notes that there are no safe, constructive, or informed grounds for granting the request, and advises that delaying President Buhari’s announcement of the only responsible response, which is that the judicial process in the case of Kanu must be allowed to run its course, will do serious harm to a country already threatened by multiple threats to its security and territorial integrity.”