The Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders'Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy ( CD) have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately release the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in obedience to the Appeal Court judgment.
Addressing newsmen in Enugu yesterday, the Executive Director of HURIDE and Chairman, Campaign for Democracy South East Zone, Dede Uzor A Uzor, expressed disappointment over the Federal Government's refusal to release Kanu after a consequential Court judgment by Appellate Court.
A three man panel of Court of Appeal had quashed all the charges preferred against Kanu, directing that he should be set free from Directorate of State Security facilities, where he has been detained since his rendition from Kenya.
The Federal Government refused to release and went to Supreme Court to obtain stay of execution of the judgment but they were directed to return back Appeal Court.
The Appellate Court reaffirmed their earlier judgment and refused to grant Federal Government's application for stay of execution.
However, a fresh Appeal Panel was set up which granted a stay of execution to Federal Government, making Kanu to continue to remain in DSS facility.
But HURIDE/CD queried the rationale for still holding the IPOB leader inspite of Court order when members of Boko Haram terrorists, Fulani Herdsmen and Bandits were allegedly allowed to go scot-free by the government of President Buhari.
The groups said they were not just released but absorbed into the Nigerian Army, the Police and other security outfits in the country.
The rights body wondered why the leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, should be allowed to be carrying and brandishing AK-47 and other dangerous weapons of deaths with his boys but Kanu Nnamdi has been kept in dungeon just because of his agitation for the sovereignty of the indigenous people of Biafra.
"How can Federal Government constitute itself into a lawless government. It is obvious that Buhari was all out to deal with Ndigbo. This has been shown by the Attorney General, Mallami himself. In this country, some sections of the country are given preferential treatment. Marginalisation and injustice against Ndigbo in NIgeria especially under Buhari is real and glaring" said the groups.
Continuing, the groups said " we are calling for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency respect the sanctity and the independence of the judiciary by respecting the judgments of the Courts".
They warned that the bane of this country is that some ethnic groups are seen as superior to others, stressing that all ethnic groups should be treated equally. Dede Uzor warned.