Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly described bringing back Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to face trial in Nigeria as a “favour.”
This revelation comes from Femi Adesina, Buhari’s former spokesperson, in his book titled ‘Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023)’, unveiled last week in Abuja.
Adesina recounts how a group called Highly-Respected Igbo Greats, led by Mbazulike Ameachi, a first republic minister of aviation, pleaded with Buhari to release Kanu.
Buhari is quoted as saying that, on his watch, the federal government had the option to eliminate Kanu, but it was considered better to bring him back to Nigeria to face trial.
Buhari emphasized that, in the past six years, he developed a system of not interfering with the judiciary.
He stated, “Let him make his case in court instead of giving a terrible impression of the country from outside.That was why in the case of Kanu, I said the best was to subject him to the system.
“I feel it is a favour to give him (Kanu) that opportunity. Government could have mobilized to eliminate him where he was, but we did not do that.”
The former president acknowledged the difficulty of the demand made by the group and assured them that he would consider it, highlighting his commitment to not interfering with the judiciary over the past six years.
Nnamdi Kanu was extradited to Nigeria in 2021 after jumping bail and fleeing the country.
He faced charges of alleged terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement upon his arraignment.