Abia North Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged a political resolution to the ongoing legal conflict between IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and the Federal Government.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, Uzor-Kalu emphasized the need for dialogue in addressing Kanu’s case, following his recent conviction by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on terrorism-related charges.
“The problem of Nnamdi Kanu is what we need to solve via a political process. I have been working with the Federal Government of Nigeria on how to solve this issue, and nobody should question the decision of Justice Omotosho,” the senator said.
He added that while Kanu’s legal team is expected to appeal the Federal High Court ruling, he plans to engage the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, to advise the President on the matter.
The former Abia State governor also lamented the social and economic impact of IPOB’s activities in the South-East, noting that several people lost jobs and livelihoods, and dozens of Igbo have been killed as a result of the group’s actions.
Uzor-Kalu recalled his personal involvement in advocating for Kanu’s release in April 2017, acknowledging the roles of Mamman Daura and then Attorney General Abubakar Malami in facilitating Kanu’s release to face trial.
“I know the pressure I personally put on President Buhari before he was released in April 2017. Nobody is talking about the Igbo who were killed,” he added, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.