By Our Correspondent
A coalition of 50 members of the House of Representatives has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing prosecution of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The lawmakers, under the platform Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East, urged the President to activate the constitutional powers vested in the Attorney General of the Federation under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to discontinue the trial in the interest of peace and national unity.
In a formal letter addressed to the President, the lawmakers argued that Section 174 empowers the Attorney General to enter a nolle prosequi, which allows the government to withdraw criminal charges at any stage before judgment is delivered. They also referred to Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which strengthens the authority of the Attorney General to halt prosecutions when doing so serves public interest.
According to the legislators, the South East region continues to face increased insecurity, economic decline, and social tension. They believe these challenges have been worsened by Kanus continued detention. They added that discontinuing his prosecution would help restore calm, rebuild trust, and encourage reconciliation across the region.
The lawmakers also noted that the federal government has previously used similar powers to end politically sensitive cases, including those involving Omoyele Sowore and Sunday Igboho. They stated that such precedents show that political solutions can play an important role in reducing conflict and strengthening national unity.
Some of the key signatories to the letter include Hon Obi Aguocha, Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere, Afam Ogene, and Abiante Awaji Inombek. The lawmakers come from different political parties, including the APC, PDP, and Labour Party, showing a rare display of bipartisan unity aimed at improving peace in the South East.
The group called on President Tinubu to show statesmanship by choosing a political settlement that promotes justice, equity, and inclusive governance. They expressed confidence that Kanus release would ease tensions, reduce insecurity, and signal the governments commitment to peaceful and dialogue based solutions.
As at the time of this report, the Presidency and the Attorney General of the Federation have not issued an official response. However, the appeal has already sparked national discussion about legal processes, constitutional powers, and the search for lasting peace.
