Nnamdi Kanu’s Family Rejects NCF’s Call for Amnesty, Demands Unconditional Releases

The family of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected the Nigerian Consultative Forum’s (NCF) appeal for President Bola Tinubu to grant him amnesty, insisting instead that Kanu is innocent and must be released unconditionally.

In a statement issued on Monday by Prince Emmanuel Kanu and made available to THE WHISTLER, the family described the NCF’s proposal as “reprehensible, defamatory, and legally indefensible.”

The rejection comes after NCF Chairman, Dede Uzor Uzor, and Secretary-General, Dr. Frank Udemadu, called on the federal government during a weekend briefing in Abuja to extend amnesty to both Kanu and former police officer, Abba Kyari, who is facing drug and money laundering charges.

Reacting, the Kanu family dismissed the comparison as scandalous. “Equating a globally recognized political prisoner with an individual accused of heinous crimes is not only offensive but also a calculated act of defamation, an affront to justice, and a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law,” Prince Emmanuel said.

The family emphasized that Kanu does not require amnesty since the Court of Appeal had already acquitted him. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was discharged and acquitted by the Nigerian Court of Appeal, a decision rooted in the jurisdictional nullity of his unlawful rendition. Under Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution, an acquittal by a superior court of record is final and inviolable, even by the Supreme Court. To suggest amnesty for an innocent man is an insult to justice and a mockery of Nigeria’s constitutional framework,” the statement read.

They further criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to remand Kanu, describing it as unconstitutional. “The court’s ruling to remand Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a flagrant violation of constitutional law, a desecration of Nigeria’s judiciary, and a betrayal of democratic principles,” the family asserted.

On attempts to equate Kanu with Abba Kyari, the family described it as “an international disgrace.” According to them, “Abba Kyari faces charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, with full legal avenues to defend himself. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on the other hand, is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra—the largest peaceful self-determination movement in Africa. To compare the two is not only intellectually dishonest but also a deliberate attempt to tarnish a global symbol of peaceful resistance.”

The family also made a global appeal to world powers, human rights groups, and foreign missions to intervene. “The world cannot stand idly by while Nigeria undermines the rule of law and erodes its credibility on the global stage. This is not about politics—it is a test of the international community’s commitment to justice, sovereignty, and human rights,” the statement declared.

Prince Kanu reaffirmed the family’s resolve, saying: “The Kanu family remains steadfast—justice must prevail. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be freed, and those responsible for his persecution must be held accountable. The world is watching, and history will judge those who remain silent in the face of this injustice.”