EXCLUSIVE: Kanu expresses willingness to negotiate with FG

There could be light at the end of the tunnel as the embattled leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has allegedly expressed willingness to negotiate with the federal government of Nigeria for his freedom, a source told NewsBand.

Mr Kanu who has been in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) after his extradition in June 2020 by former president Muhammad Buhari’s administration is currently facing terrorism charge.

In April 2022, Nyako struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge preferred against the separatist leader by the federal government.

The remaining seven counts were also quashed by the court of appeal on October 13, 2022, with the judge ordering Kanu’s release.

On October 28, 2022, the court of appeal granted a stay of execution on its verdict discharging Kanu, after the federal government filed an appeal at the supreme court.

On December 15, 2023, a five-member panel of the apex court reversed the verdict of the appeal court and ordered Kanu to resume his trial before the federal high court.

Also, on March 19,2024, a federal high court sitting in Abuja, dismissed the fresh application Nnamdi Kanu filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge against him.

Kanu had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Alloy Ejimakor, on February 5, 2024 prayed the court to grant him bail on “most liberal terms” owing to his deteriorating health.

Rather, Binta Nyako, presiding judge ordered an accelerated hearing of the seven-count terrorism charge preferred against Kanu.

However, following the legal and political brouhaha which have characterized his trial, Mr Kanu who is said to be so desperate to have his life back, has agreed to negotiate with the powers that be.

An inside source told NewsBand that the negotiation will culminate to the much anticipated political solution which stakeholders from the region have urged the various actors entangled in the face-off to adopt so as to address the perennial issue of agitations.

The source said, “Yes, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has agreed to negotiate with the federal government. We are expecting to see something positive come out of the negotiation. Kanu has taken the right step.

“Political solution is the way out of the situation. Southeast region need peace. Atleast, if Kanu is released, most of these criminal elements tormenting the peace of the region under the guise of agitation will think twice”.

Though, several attempts to reach the spokesman of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful to comment on the development failed as he could not be reached.