Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called for the immediate release or due prosecution of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing his prolonged detention as a “stain on the rule of law.”
In a statement posted via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Atiku condemned President Bola Tinubu led federal government’s refusal to comply with court orders that have granted bail to Kanu, saying such actions represent “an abuse of power and an assault on justice.”
“The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains an open sore on our nation’s conscience and a stain on our belief in the rule of law,” the statement read.
Atiku also expressed support for the campaign led by human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore), who has consistently advocated for Kanu’s release.
“I, therefore, lend my voice in full support of the campaign led by @YeleSowore for his immediate release or due prosecution,” Atiku said.
He warned that allowing the matter to linger without resolution undermines national unity and casts doubt on the country’s commitment to justice.
“We fail as patriots if we allow Kanu’s case to fester as yet another wound this nation refuses to heal,” he concluded.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his controversial extradition to Nigeria in 2021. Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release on bail, the government has yet to comply, sparking criticism from rights groups, legal experts, and political figures.
Atiku’s intervention adds significant political weight to the growing calls for adherence to the rule of law in the handling of Kanu’s case.
