Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that prospects remain for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, despite Thursday’s life imprisonment sentence handed down by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kalu said efforts toward securing Kanu’s freedom through a political solution were still underway, stressing that the latest court verdict had not foreclosed that option.
The court on Thursday convicted Kanu of terrorism offences and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Reacting, Kalu said the conclusion of judicial proceedings has now cleared the way for renewed engagement with the executive arm of government on a political resolution.
READ ALSO: Court Convicts Nnamdi Kanu on Seven Terrorism Charges
He expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would consider appeals from respected Igbo leaders.
He called for calm across the Southeast and the country, assuring citizens that discussions would be intensified.
READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
Kalu said, “It is now time to explore political solutions that had been hindered because the matter was before the court. But now that the court has finished, it is time to intensify the request for the President’s intervention, and we are sure that the President is not averse to it. We are going to get it. All hope is not lost. Our people should remain calm.”
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
