Following his rendition in Kenya on June 27th, 2021, by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has since then been held in the Secret police facility.
The then attorney general of the Nigeria’s federation, Abubakar Malami described the operation that resulted in Kanu’s arrest in Kenya as a “collaborative effort of the Nigerian intelligence and security services “. However, report claims that Kanu was arrested in Kenya by the Kenyan police and was handed over to the Nigerian authority.
While the members and supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu founded, continue to seek his release from the DSS custody through the court process, the goal appears elusive especially as the Nigeria’s court system seems heavily vulnerable to the dictates of the executive arm.
The legal process has been back and forth with no sight of its ending soon.
Though Mazi Kanu is scheduled to make court appearance on the 26th of September, 2024 amid the continual demand for his release from individuals and organizations across the world, Kanu is likely to be held in the facility till 2028 going by an opinion of a close ally to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu who does not want his name mentioned in this article.
According to him, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case from the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The Buhari’s administration perceived Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a strong threat to Nigeria’s unity and did everything within its power to arrest Mazi Kanu. Despite pleas by Ndi Igbo elders and prominent members of the Oha na Eze Ndi Igbo to the former president to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the president objected, insisting that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu goes through the legal process.
The insider further explained that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is unlikely to regain freedom until 2028 after Tinubu’s reelection. He said the reason is that releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before the 2027 presidential election will impact negatively on the acceptance of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the northern voters who perceive Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as an enemy of the country.
In his words: there are plans to make sure Kanu is comfortable while in the government facility. The Tinubu administration would have freed Mr. Kanu but for politics. Mind you, Buhari arrested Kanu, if Tinubu releases him, the north will oppose his reelection. So Kanu will be cared for in the facility but his release will come after the 2027 general elections”.