By Nathaniel Zacchaeus and Deborah Onyofufeke, Abuja
The South-East Caucus in the Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to obey the Appeal Court ruling which ordered the immediate release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The Igbo Senators appealed in a statement issued by them in Abuja. They also advised the federal government against appealing the ruling at the Supreme Court.

But the Federal Government yesterday approached the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling of the appellate court which discharged Kanu last week.

The Senators, across political party lines, asked the Presidency to utilise the opportunity presented by the Appeal Court ruling and consider a political solution to solve the lingering problem in the interest of the country’s unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.

The caucus, in the statement signed by all of them, cautioned that resorting to the Supreme Court would ignite varied interpretations, which to all intents is injurious to the unity and corporate existence of the country.

Part of their statement read, “We should be mindful of our diversity and the strengths we as a country derive therefrom.

“This is the time to show magnanimity and statesmanship. The Appeal Court has provided the leeway for the authorities to walk the talk as ones desirous of preserving Nigerians’ unity and respect for her diversity.
“Not appealing the matter and resorting to a political solution will in no way question the enormous powers of the federal government, rather it would enhance its prestige as a government in love with all segments of the Nigerian society.

“Accordingly, we as a Caucus and stakeholders in the Nigeria project appeal to Mr President, to remember the promise he made to a delegation of elders of Igboland some time ago and release Nnamdi Kanu, especially now that the Appeal Court by that ruling removed the burden of interference from him. Going on Appeal would ultimately negate that kind gesture,” the Caucus said.

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The document was signed by, Orji Uzor Kalu (Majority Whip); Chukwuka Utazi (Minority Whip); Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Uche Ekwunife.

Others are, Stella Oduah, Sam Egwu, Obinna Ogba, Theodore Orji, and Chimaroke Nnamani.
The rest are, Senator Micheal NnachiSenator Onyewuchi Ezenwa, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Frank Ibezim and Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

*FG appeals IPoB leader’s acquittal

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approached the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement which vindicated Kanu.

In the appeal filed at the apex court by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Federal Government asked the Supreme Court to among other things, set aside the judgement of the lower court.

The Federal Government’s seven grounds appeal prayed to the apex court to grant a stay of the execution of the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on October 13, 2022.

While questioning the lower court’s decision, the Federal Government argued that the court erred by faulting the manner Kanu was abducted from Kenya to Nigeria after his alleged jumping of bail granted to him by the Federal High Court in 2017.

The government also claimed that the Appeal Court acted in error by striking out pending charges preferred against Kanu based on the fact that the trial judge had no jurisdiction to handle the matter.

A date for the hearing of the motion for the stay of execution is being awaited.

The three-member panel of Justices of the Appellate Court, in a judgement delivered last week, set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which quashed eight out of 15 counts of the charge preferred against Kanu.

In the unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, the court declared illegal and unlawful, the abduction of Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the seven charges maintained by the trial court against him because the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria, thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.

The appellate court, therefore, discharged Kanu and ordered his release.

Hours after this judgement was made, the Federal Government, through the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), declared that the discharge does not mean acquittal, hence other legal means would be sought to try Kanu.

Following the judgement, concerned Nigerians have been calling on the Federal Government to obey the judgement of the Court of Appeal.