The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has lauded the Supreme Court for releasing the Certified True Copy of its December 15, 2023 judgment on the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

In a statement on Wednesday, the deputy speaker said that the apex court had heeded the voice of reasoning.

Mr Kanu who was earlier arrested in 2015 for alleged terrorism had been in detention while undergoing trial.

The Court of Appeal, in October 2022 struck out the terrorism charge brought against Mr Kanu by the Federal Government and ordered his release, a decision that was appealed by the plaintiff.

The apex however, ruled in December 2023 held that the terrorism trial of Kanu should resume at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The deputy speaker who initiated Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) which canvasses a non-kinetic approach towards resolving the security challenges in the region had earlier called on the court to release the documents.

He also, joined Kalu’s family and lawyers to make a plea to the authorities to take action on the matter especially in the light of the expiration of the 14-day window given by law for signing the document.

Following the release of the CTC, Mr Kalu lauded the Supreme Court for obliging the request which he said would go a long way in supporting the peace project in the region.

The deputy speaker expressed gratitude to the Army, the police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies for helping to sustain the peace of the south east.

He also urged the people of the region not to lose hope, assuring that efforts were being made to secure Mr Kanu’s release.

The lawmaker charged the people to continue to maintain the peace of the region, saying that the President Bola Tinubu was genuinely interested in the development of the region.

Mr Kalu commended the people for heeding the call to end the sit-at-home civil disobedience observed on Mondays in protest against Mr Kanu’s continuous detention.

The legislator charged the people to completely make it a thing of the past as it has not in any measure added to their social wellbeing but rather, crippled the economy of the South-East.

He said that PISE-P was working together with the Federal Government and the governors of the five states in the region to ensure that its pillar of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction would be achieved to properly integrate the people.

The Court of Appeal had struck out the terrorism charge filed against Mr Kanu by the Federal Government and ordered his release from the facility of the State Security Service.

The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying the execution of the court judgment at the Supreme Court. 

(NAN)