NEWS
Lawmaker Visits Nnamdi Kanu, Resolves Lawyers’ Access Restrictions
Obi Aguocha, a lawmaker representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, recently visited Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The visit, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, was part of ongoing efforts to seek a political resolution to Kanu’s prolonged detention.
Kanu was initially arrested in Kenya on June 27, 2021, and later extradited to Nigeria, where he now faces charges including terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement of violence through his broadcasts on Radio Biafra.
A statement released on Saturday by Aguocha’s media team indicated that Kanu’s legal representatives had recently reached out to the lawmaker, expressing concerns over restricted access to their client.
The statement read in part, “A few days ago, the lawyers to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu reached out to his Honourable member, Obi Aguocha, representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South federal constituency. This was about the long-running difficulties being encountered by the legal team in their efforts to gain access and meet with their client.
“Hon Obi Aguocha took urgent steps in writing the Department of State Security and Tajudeen Abbas, Honourable Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, seeking their immediate intervention.
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“A meeting of the aforementioned was positive to the effect that Hon Obi Aguocha having inquired from the DSS, who informed that the seeming pause to accessing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was occasioned by his lawyers asking the judge to recuse herself, which requires further legal process and is also known to both parties.
“Hon. Obi Aguocha had a physical audience with Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday, 24th of October 2024, in the company of an immediate family member, Ms Ezioma Stella Ikpo Hon. Obi Aguocha fully briefed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu about the circumstances during their meeting.”
The statement further noted that the legal team have now been granted access to Kanu.
“A resolution was reached regarding the lack of access to Nnamdi Kanu by his legal team, who hereby are granted the requisite access to their client”, the statement added.
It also commended the DSS leadership in its handling of the medical needs of Kanu, saying “Nnamdi Kanu is keeping well and looks strong.
“Hon Aguocha appreciates the commendable efforts of the new leadership of the DSS in ensuring that Nnamdi Kanu’s healthcare needs are met, including the approval of his request for access and attention to private medical care and to a doctor of his choice, to which Hon Obi Aguocha is pleased to confirm that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has received private medical attention as recently as October 3, 2024.
“Hon Aguocha deeply appreciates the uncommon and courageous effort of the Honourable Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives for his quick intervention, which has facilitated these positive outcomes.
“It should be noted that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s fundamental human rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended and other relevant instruments of the United Nations should be upheld.
“Hon Obi Aguocha remains optimistic that in the end, a political solution will be achieved, leading to the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and also for the peace and stability of the South-East.”
The South-South Reawakening Group has opposed plans to align the proposed coastal road with the East-West Road, insisting that both projects should be constructed side by side.
The group’s convener, Joseph Ambakederimo, stated this during an interview on Arise TV on Sunday, arguing that the coastal road should be delivered as a separate infrastructure project rather than diverted to the existing East-West Road.
Ambakederimo said the coastal road had remained on the drawing board for many years and questioned why the project was now being considered for alignment with the East-West Road.
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“I posted on my LinkedIn handle when somebody posted the minister’s briefing. I said no. Mr. Minister, we want to see the coastal road side by side the East-West Road,” he said.
“We want to see that happen, not to do any alignment. Alignment of what? To where? We need that coastal road, and that road has been on the drawing board for so many years. So many, many years.”
He urged engineers to revisit their plans and address potential environmental challenges associated with constructing the road through the South-South region.
“I believe the feasibility of that road has been done. We know the processes of building roads, infrastructure all over the world. Pure and concrete feasibility would have been done. So let the engineers go back to the drawing board,” Ambakederimo said.
His comments come amid concerns over the proposed route of the coastal road and calls for the Federal Government to reconsider its approach to the project.
Ambakederimo maintained that the coastal road should be constructed alongside the East-West Road rather than aligned with it, stressing the importance of delivering the long-awaited infrastructure project to the South-South region.
The Nigeria Police Force has rescued an abducted farmer, Nafi’u Abubakar Sarki, as security operatives continue efforts to locate 10 other farmers abducted by armed bandits in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The rescue operation followed the abduction of 11 farmers at Kamfanin Madam Village, according to the police operational update issued on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
The police said tactical teams, working alongside local vigilantes, traced the escape route used by the suspected bandits in an effort to locate the victims.
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“Police Tactical Teams and local vigilantes successfully traced the escape route of armed bandits who abducted 11 farmers at Kamfanin Madam Village, Maru LGA,” the statement said.
It added that “one of the abducted victims, Nafi’u Abubakar Sarki, was safely rescued unharmed, while operations continue for the rescue of the remaining victims.”
The police identified the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Gusau as the unit investigating the incident.
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.
Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.
He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.
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“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.
The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.
He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.
According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.
He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.
As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.
He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.
Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.
Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
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