Abuja — In a pointed open letter to President Bola Tinubu, Vincent Egechukwu Obetta, Esq., a former legal counsel to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has called on the president to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to file a nolle prosequi, effectively terminating the government’s long-running prosecution.
Obetta, who represented Kanu early in his legal battles, argues that successive governments have systematically ignored court orders dating back to 2015 — particularly a bail ruling in Suit No. ABJ/CMC/CR/21/2015 which the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly violated. He further referenced a 2015 Federal High Court decision by Justice A.F.A. Ademola, which ordered Kanu’s unconditional release, asserting that these judicial mandates have never been honored.
According to Obetta, this persistent non-compliance undermines the rule of law and raises constitutional concerns, referencing Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution. He describes the continuation of the case as “an abuse of judicial process and a grave affront to judicial authority.
Obetta also took aim at procedural irregularities, calling into question the legality of Kanu’s 2021 arrest in Kenya, which he labels a “state-engineered abduction” that breached international and Nigerian law. He referenced a Kenyan court ruling (Petition No. E359 of 2021) that found the arrest unconstitutional and awarded Kanu damages.
Citing conflicting rulings from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on the validity of Kanu’s extradition and the charges against him, Obetta argues that the government lacks the legal footing to continue prosecution and that the courts have effectively stripped the state of standing in the case.
“In the interest of justice, order, and national stability,” Obetta implored Tinubu to act decisively, not only by ordering Kanu’s release but by directing a nolle prosequi to end the trial once and for all.
He concluded the seven-page appeal by warning that the ongoing detention of Kanu is fueling unrest in southeastern Nigeria and tarnishing Nigeria’s international reputation. Obetta framed his call as a pathway to reconciliation, arguing that only such a presidential intervention can restore public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.