The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari finally spoke on Nnamdi Kanu’s case in an exclusive interview with Channels Television where he spoke on several burning issues in the country, including security, economy, politics, among others.
During the interview, conducted by Channels’ Seun Okinbaloye and Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, President Buhari was asked whether he is going to release Nnamdi Kanu. The question was asked because in November 2021, he promised Igbo leaders under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats that he would consider their request of releasing Kanu who is facing treason charges preferred against him by the Nigerian Government.
While answering the question, Buhari though he acknowledged the possibility of a political resolution, believed that the IPOB leader must answer for his actions over the years, especially while he was out of the country.
“Nigerians know that I don’t interfere with the judiciary,” He added, “Let him be listened to. For those who are saying that we should release him, no we cannot release him.
“There is a possibility of political solution; if people behave themselves, all well and good, but you can’t go to a foreign country and keep on sending incorrect economic and security problem against your country and thinking that you will never have to account for what you have been doing. Let him account for what he has been doing.”
In his interview with Channels Television, the President doubted if Kanu was willing to return to the country to clear his name from the allegations against him after he fled in 2017.
“There is one institution that I wouldn’t dare interfere with – that is the judiciary,” he said. “Kanu’s case is with the judiciary, but what I wonder is when Kanu was safely in Europe abusing this administration and mentioning too many things, I never thought really he wants to voluntarily come and defend himself on the accusations.
“So, we are giving him an opportunity to defend himself in our system, not to be abusing us from Europe as if he was not a Nigerian. Let him come here to us and then criticise us here.”
