Local: Nnamdi Kanu speaks on Orji Kalu’s freedom, list three (3) prominent Nigerians that must be released from jail

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), identified three influential Nigerians who had to be freed from prison following a Supreme Court decision on Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria.

Reports gathered were that the Supreme Court on Friday nullified the conviction of the former governor of Abia State. Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in prison over N7.16 billion fraud by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on December 5.

Justice Mohammed Idris convicted Kalu on 39 charges of N7.2 billion of bribery and money laundering favoured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however on Friday, the Supreme Court released a new order to prohibit the judgment.

Justice Amina Augie who led a seven-man panel of Justices held that the trial Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court will reassign the case for a fresh trial.

Reacting to the decision of the apex court, Kanu thanked God for the ruling of the court in favour of the Abia North Senator and cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against the detention of Christians and Southerners.

Crediting his group, the IPOB for Kalu’s freedom, Kanu urged Buhari’s administration to release other victims of the alleged lopsided prosecution until all stolen money by the alleged cabal at the Presidency is accounted for, starting from the nearly 14 billion Aso Rock Clinic looted from 2015 to date.

Kanu, who is on exile, called for the release of Joshua Dariye, Jolly Nyame James, Bala Ngilari and others currently in different correctional centres in the country, adding that there should be an end to selective prosecution.

His words: “God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama takes all the glory but I must also say that the moderately reasonable Alimajiri judge that quashed the original conviction should be commended for saving Abba Kyari & the rest of the core north from damaging scrutiny and global shame by #IPOB. Those that ignore our warnings do so at their peril.

“We have set Orji Uzor Kalu free today and while all reasonable Igbo people are happy, I am also looking forward to hearing the same about Olisah Metuh soon.

“There are other victims of this lopsided prosecution, they are incarcerated and MUST be released until all stolen money by this cabal is accounted for, starting from the nearly 14-Billion Aso Rock Clinic they looted from 2015 to date.

“I am calling for an end to selective prosecution and the immediate release of the following people: Joshua Dariye Jolly Nyame James Bala Ngilari

"Until Nigeria is adamant about punishing those looters, nobody will be in prison. You cannot be incarcerating Christians from the Middle Belt and the South in the name of combating graft, when Fulani Arch Looters are jostling over who will be the next Chief of Staff and, in turn, the de-facto Leader. This inequality is what we are fighting, not the battle fighting imperialism, "says IPOB.