The family of Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has claimed that they had an agreement with President Bola Tinubu to facilitate his release.
Kanu’s brother, Kanunta, revealed that the pact was reached through a meeting with Tinubu’s son, Seyi, during the buildup to the 2023 presidential election. He alleged that the meeting had the president’s endorsement but lamented that Tinubu has yet to fulfill the agreement to release the IPOB leader.
In a statement, Kanunta explained that the agreement was based on the condition that IPOB would not boycott the 2023 elections, with Tinubu promising to release Kanu if elected president.
The statement reads:
“Before the last election, I received a message from a former governor that Seyi, the son of President Tinubu, wanted to meet with me. I agreed to the meeting on the condition that our discussion would focus on the release of my brother.
“The meeting took place in Abuja, with another individual present to witness and verify the deliberations. Seyi assured me that his father approved of the meeting and that any agreement we reached would be binding on then-candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In good faith, we agreed that I would convey the outcome to my brother to uphold IPOB’s tradition of not interfering with elections, whether through boycott or civil disobedience. This understanding was communicated to my brother, who reaffirmed his commitment not to disrupt the elections.
“When candidate Tinubu visited Owerri during his campaign, he publicly reiterated his promise to facilitate my brother’s release if elected. We considered this a reaffirmation of the agreement.
“However, it defies logic that nearly two years into his presidency, my brother remains in detention despite having no charges against him. Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the case over three months ago, yet no new judge has been assigned to the matter.”
Kanunta called on Tinubu to honor the agreement, emphasizing the urgency of Kanu’s release.