Abuja — The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) has called on the federal government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally, asserting that his continued detention is both illegal and unjust.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Major General (Rtd.) Collins R. U. Ihekire, UNIEC argued that prosecuting Kanu under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, which has since been repealed, violates the principle of nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege (“no crime, no punishment without law”). They said the repealed act “ceased to exist” when the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, came into force, making any trial under the former law a “nullity ab initio.
The Elders Council condemned Kanu’s prolonged prosecution as a form of “selective justice,” noting that other figures who have used violence—or been labeled as terrorist—have received amnesty or reintegration. According to UNIEC, Kanu’s case should be treated as a constitutional matter, not solely a security one, arguing that his imprisonment undermines national cohesion and trust in judicial institutions.
UNIEC urged political and traditional leaders, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, church authorities, and civil society in the South East, to unite in calling for Kanu’s release — framing it as essential for justice, peace, and the country’s long-term stability.