The Northern group, therefore, criticised the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to release the separatist leader.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu would be above the law if he is released unconditionally without facing trial for the terrorism-related charges filed against him.
The Northern group, therefore, criticised the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to release the separatist leader.
ACF stated that Kanu can get a presidential pardon after he has been convicted, but it frowned on the demand for his release while his trial is still ongoing.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, said anyone accused of committing a serious crime against the state should be allowed to face the law.
He said, “Why should somebody who is accused of serious crimes against the state be released by the executive because his tribal organisation has so demanded? If we start doing that there is no more rule of law again in Nigeria.
“If there is no rule of law, there is no democracy. If the man is convicted, we will understand if there is a plea to the president to grant him a pardon through the prerogative of mercy as stated in the constitution.
“We do not agree that a person accused of serious crimes against the state, the type that this Nnamdi Kanu is accused of should be freed.
“It appears Ohanaeze Ndigbo has always been in support of his activities some of which have cost a lot of lives, including those of security agents.
“If they are not against his alleged crimes, why demand his release without his going through the due process of the law? Is he above the law of the land?”