Traditional rulers and custodians of the ancient kingdom of Umuahia North LGA of Abia State have officially reacted to the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court, which sentenced their son, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment.
The traditional rulers, who described Nnamdi Kanu as their illustrious son and Crown Prince, stated that he is not a terrorist, as proclaimed by the court.
They insisted that he is a freedom fighter who consistently spoke against the injustice and marginalization of his people.
The monarchs expressed their views in a statement released to journalists on Friday. The statement was signed by Eze Innocent Adiele Nwaigwe, the Chairman of the Umuahia North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Chiabuotu Emelike, the Secretary, as well as Eze Nzenwata Mbakwe and Eze Eddy Ibeabuchi.
“For over a decade, our son has stood before the courts of this nation, enduring trials, detentions, and unimaginable hardships. The recent judgment, though deeply painful to us as fathers and leaders, does not erase what we know in truth: that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a terrorist.
“He is a freedom fighter who has consistently spoken out against injustice and the marginalization of his people,” the monarchs declared.
Continuing, they said, “We insist, as we have always done, that our son remains innocent of the charges brought against him.
“The decisions pronounced by Justice Gbenga Omotosho do not diminish his spirit, nor do they extinguish the hope of millions who believe in justice, fairness, and the rule of law. Justice delayed may be painful, but justice denied cannot stand forever.”
The monarchs noted that the wheels of justice, though sometimes slow, would ultimately grind toward truth, pointing out that Nnamdi Kanu retains the legal and constitutional right to appeal the judgment all the way to the Supreme Court.
The traditional rulers renewed their call on President Bola Tinubu to exercise the prerogative of mercy vested in his office by granting presidential pardon to the IPOB leader.
The monarchs, who said that the youths of Umuahia North were pained by the judgment, called for peace, restraint, and calm among the youths, appealing to them not to take the law into their own hands.
