Why I can’t release Nnamdi Kanu – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, should defend himself in court for peddling false information about his regime while he (Kanu) was overseas.

Buhari stated this in an interview aired on Channels Television on Wednesday night.

There have been raging calls on Buhari to release Kanu including a recent visit by some Igbo elders led by the First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi.

- Advertisement -

During the visit on November 19, 2021, Buhari had told them he would not want to interfere in the running of the judiciary but said he would consider their demand after describing it as “a heavy one.”

READ ALSO: Chinese Loans: We’ll borrow more money if need be – Buhari

But speaking on Wednesday night during the television interview, the President said, “There is one institution that I wouldn’t interfere with, that is the judiciary, Kanu’s case is with the judiciary but what I wonder is when Kanu was safely in Europe, abusing this administration and mentioning too many things, I thought he wants to come and defend himself on the accusations.

“So, we are giving him an opportunity to defend himself in our system, not to be abusing us from Europe as if he was not a Nigerian. Let him come here with us and then criticise us here.

“Nigerians know that I don’t interfere with the judiciary, let him be listened to. But those who are saying that he should be released, no, we cannot release him.”

When asked about the possibility of a political solution, Buhari said, “There is a possibility of a political solution. If people behave themselves, all well and good but you can’t go to a foreign country and keep on sending incorrect economic and security problems against our country and thinking that you would not account for what you have been doing. Let him account for what he has been doing.”