Kenneth Okonkwo Calls for Immediate Release of Nnamdi Kanu, Citing ‘Justice Delayed is Justice Denied’

Kenneth Okonkwo, a legal practitioner and leader within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Okonkwo made this appeal during an interview on Monday on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily,’ as reported by NIGERIA NEWS 247.

Kanu has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021. Over the years, there have been numerous calls for his release, including from prominent figures such as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and various South-East regional governors.

On Monday, Okonkwo renewed these calls, urging the government to seek a political resolution to the matter. The actor-turned-lawyer criticized the prolonged detention of Kanu, pointing out that he has been incarcerated for nearly seven years without a clear judgment, highlighting a serious lapse in justice.

Quoting Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, Okonkwo stressed that every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He stated, “A country that holds a person in custody for over seven years without reaching a verdict is failing in delivering justice.”

He further emphasized, “Justice delayed is justice denied. The Constitution mandates that accused individuals be tried within a reasonable timeframe. Keeping someone detained for almost seven years without a trial is unreasonable. What exactly are you judging?”