Jubilation In South East, Lagos As Court Frees Nnamdi Kanu
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Wild jubilation has greeted the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the Department of State Security (DSS), to release the detained director of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola in his ruling on Thursday, said the continued detention of Kanu was unlawful.
The announcement according to our correspondents across the South East and in Lagos has sent his supporters into a frenzy of celebration, with most of them shouting, “freedom to Biafra, Land of the Rising Sun.”
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Our correspondent in Onitsha, said the commercial center which has witnessed some of the most massive rallies of the IPOB, was in celebratory mood as motorists honked their horns and a few others took to the streets in jubilation that their leader was free.
“We were confident the court will let him go. What wrong did he do because he agitated for self-determination? For us, the fight has just started. Nigeria must respect our right to decide our future and not through intimidation,” a resident, Nnam said.
The situation was no less different in Aba as the city saw traders and residents dancing and chanting songs of victory along the Port Harcourt-Aba expressway.
The second day of protest in Lagos was more of a party as IPOB members were seen hugging and backslapping each other in the Trade Fair and Alaba areas, where they had gathered for protest.
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An IPOB flag waving member, who simply gave his name as Uzo, said, “It will be a long walk to where we want to go with Biafra, but we will preserve and demand equity and justice. This is no federalism but a feudal system where some people think they are more equal. Our leader is free, and we have entered the next phase.”
The indication that Kanu may be freed today emerged on Wednesday when the chief magistrate court, Wuse zone 2, Abuja, presided over by Shuaibu Usman, discharged Mr. Kanu, on all counts of criminal conspiracy and ownership of an unlawful society brought against him by the federal government.
The discharge of the leader of the IPOB came on the heels of the Department of State Service (DSS), dropping all charges against him.
In his ruling, the magistrate ruled: “The accused person is hereby discharged and the case struck out.”
The DSS had detained Kanu for over 90 days, though granted bail by the chief magistrate court.
