Presidency warns against protests over Nnamdi Kanu’s detention

Presidency warns against protests over Nnamdi Kanu’s detention

The Presidency has cautioned against illegal protests and inflammatory rhetoric aimed at securing the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, insisting that such actions undermine the rule of law and disrupt judicial processes.

In a statement issued on Monday, presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare emphasized that justice must be pursued through legal channels, not through public demonstrations or threats. “Protests, threats, attempts at mob actions, and inflammatory rhetoric do not aid the judicial process,” Dare said. “Instead, they hinder it, creating unnecessary tension and undermining the rule of law.”

The warning follows recent street protests led by activist Omoyele Sowore and other Nigerians, who described Kanu’s continued detention as unconstitutional and demanded his immediate release.

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Dare criticized the protests as attempts to interfere with ongoing legal proceedings, calling them “outdated and counterproductive in a modern democracy.” He further argued that such demonstrations would not be tolerated in Western democracies. “Sowore and his team can never try these stunts in Europe or America. You cannot employ protest and civil unrest to demand the release of someone accused of terrorism and whose case is still in court. Not even in America,” he said.

The presidency reiterated that Kanu’s case predates President Bola Tinubu’s administration and remains under the jurisdiction of the judiciary. “This administration respects the independence of the courts and will not interfere in ongoing legal proceedings,” Dare affirmed.

He also stressed that while freedom and democracy are fundamental rights, they have limits defined by law. “Testing these limits would invite the full application of the laws as clearly stated,” he warned.

Kanu has been in detention since his controversial extradition from Kenya under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He is currently facing terrorism-related charges in court.

The presidency urged protesters to allow the judiciary to carry out its duties without interference, reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice is served fairly and transparently.

Presidency warns against protests over Nnamdi Kanu’s detention