About 50 members of the House of Representatives under the Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to invoke Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 107(1) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 with a view to releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
Besides, the group appealed to Tinubu to commence a presidential peace initiative to address all issues and challenges bedevilling the South East zone of Nigeria.
The three-page letter signed by the lawmakers, dated June 19, 2024, and addressed to Mr President. The lawmakers included; Hon. Obi Aguocha (Abia), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (Imo), Hon. Aliyu Mustapha (Kaduna), Hon. Midala Balami (Borno), Hon. Afam Ogene (Anambra), Hon. Abiante Awaji-Inombek (Rivers), Hon. Dominic Okafor (Anambra), Hon. Etanabene Benedict (Delta), Hon. Shehu Dalhatu (Katsina), Hon.Chinedu Emeka Martins (Imo), Hon. Matthew Nwogu (Imo), Hon. Muhammed Buba Jagere(Yobe), Hon. Peter Aniekwe (Anambra), Hon. Koki Sagir ( Kano), Hon. Amobi Oga (Abia), Hon. Gwacham Chinwe (Anambra), Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo (Anambra), Hon. Abdulmaleek Danga (Kogi), and Hon. Osi Nkemkama (Ebonyi).
Others were Hon. Mark Useni (Taraba), Hon. Alexander Mascot (Abia), Hon. Philip Agbese (Benue), Hon. Ginger Onwusibe Obinna (Abia), Hon. Zakari Nyampa (Adamawa), Hon. Jamo Aminu (Katsina), and Hon. Emeka Idu Obiajulu (Anambra), Hon.Nnabuife Chinwe Clara (Anambra), Hon. Ukodhiko Jonathan (Delta), Hon. Akingbaso Olarewaju (Ondo), Hon. Lilian Obiageli Orogbu (Anambra), Hon.Marcus Onobu (Edo), Hon.Chinedu Obika (FCT Abuja), Hon. Billy Osawaru (Edo), Hon. Ojuawo Rufus Adeniyi (Ekiti), Hon.Okoli Ngozi Lawrence (Delta), Hon. Ezechi Nnamdi (Delta), Hon. Alozie Munachim Ikechi(Abia), Hon.Nkwonta Chris (Abia), Hon. Nnamchi Paul Sunday ( Enugu), Hon. Obetta Mark Chidi ( Enugu), Hon. Tochi Okere Chinedu (Imo), Hon. Uguru Emmanuel (Ebonyi), Hon.Joseph Nwaobasi (Ebonyi), Hon.Onwugbu Befford Anayo (Enugu), Hon.Atu Chimaobi Sam (Enugu), Hon.Sunday Cyriacus Umeha (Enugu), and Hon. Anthony Adepoju (Oyo).
The group urged the President to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to invoke his powers of ‘nolle prosequi’ under the provisions of Section 174(1) of the Constitution and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and cause the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention and discontinue his trial in the interest of peace in the South East.
According to the lawmakers, they believed such action was long overdue and would be instrumental in opening the door for much-needed conversations surrounding peace restoration and inclusivity as well as addressing the issues that led to the agitations in the South-East.
They recalled that the President extended this gesture through the Office of the Attorney General in the charge involving Omoyele Sowore wherein, he was charged with treasonable felony in Charge No FHC/ABJ CR/235/2019, and Sunday Igboho and others.
