American Military Veterans of Igbo Decent have recently written a plea to Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, urging for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The letter, signed by the AVID President, Chief Dr. Sylvester Onyia, and Secretary, Dr. Godson Obiagwu, expressed their concerns about Kanu's prolonged detention and deteriorating health condition.
The veterans, based in Jacksonville, Florida, and USA, have raised their voices to highlight the injustice and disobedience to earlier court judgments, emphasizing the need for Justice Nyako to follow the Supreme Court's ruling on Kanu.
They described Kanu as a prisoner of conscience and criticized the judge for refusing to grant his bail application and for not allowing him to be transferred to the Correctional Centre.
Kanu has been detained in solitary confinement at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja since June 2021, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
The US military veterans argued that his conversations with his lawyers and family members were monitored, and the Federal Government had brought all sorts of charges against him despite his innocence.
The veterans' letter comes after the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja last year discharged Kanu of all terrorism counts of charge against him by the Federal Government and ordered his immediate unconditional release.
The Federal Government appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court, which held that Kanu's bail application should not be revoked.
In their plea, the veterans urged Justice Nyako to release Kanu, stating that the judge's refusal to comply with the Supreme Court's judgment and the lack of willingness to interpret the constitution fairly were "truly embarrassing and humiliating for the judicial system, Nigeria, and the whole world."
The IPOB leader's continued detention has caused significant concern among his supporters and human rights activists, who believe that his rights have been violated and that he should be released immediately.
The veterans' letter serves as a reminder of the international attention on this case and the call for justice and fairness in the judicial system.
