Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to engage with President Bola Tinubu regarding the ongoing detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore shared the update on Friday via his X account following a meeting with Jonathan in Abuja. Their discussion focused on the “urgent and compelling need” to resolve Kanu’s case “decisively and justly.”
He stated, “Earlier today in Abuja, I met with former President @GEJonathan to discuss the continued incarceration of Mazi @NnamdiKanu. President Jonathan acknowledged the importance of addressing this matter fairly and promised to meet with @officialabat (President Bola Tinubu) as soon as possible to discuss it.”
Sowore noted that Jonathan’s involvement adds to a growing list of prominent Nigerians calling for justice in Kanu’s case, including former Vice President @atiku, human rights lawyer Femi Falana SAN, Senator @ShehuSani, and others across political and regional lines.
Reiterating his call for Kanu’s release, Sowore said the IPOB leader “remains detained because he courageously confronted Nigeria’s long-standing issue of marginalization.” He also urged political, cultural, and religious figures—such as Peter Obi, Chukwuma Soludo, Alex Otti, Francis Nwifuru, Peter Mbah, Hope Uzodinma, Oby Ezekwesili, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s John Mbata—to join the campaign advocating for Kanu’s freedom.
Kanu has been in detention since 2021, following his re-arrest abroad and extradition to Nigeria to face terrorism and treasonable felony charges. Despite several court orders granting bail or mandating his release, these have yet to be enforced.
