Mr Kanu was arrested in October last year during a visit to Nigeria from the UK and has since been charged with several offences including running a pirate radio station and treason. His incarceration has sparked protests across Igboland in southeast Nigeria with his supporters calling the recreation of the defunct Republic of Biafra, which they want to secede from Nigeria.
There have also been calls for Mr Kanu's unconditional release but so far, the government has not indicated it is willing to drop the charges against him. Ina surprise move, however, Mr Kanu has said he is willing to negotiate with the government and has denied claims that he was working with some militant groups in the Niger Delta region, including the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (Mend) and the Niger Delta Avengers.
Speaking through his lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amobi Nzelu, Mr Kanu said he was not opposed to negotiation to secure his freedom from detention which he described as politically motivated and orchestrated. They however said Mr Kanu would not renounce his ideology for him to be released because Ipob is bigger than him.
Mr Ejiofor said: “He cannot say yes or no to renouncing it but he is open to a political resolution of the problem. Nobody has approached him for negotiation where he is kept and the issue of Ipob is beyond him but he is open to negotiation.
"We are not against discussion on this issue. A political solution will be easily achieved than legal solution but Kanu must be released unconditionally.”
He added that Mr Kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any form of relationship with the members of Mend. According to Mr Ejiofor, no one has any implied, direct or the express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or Ipob in any purported negotiations going on between Mend and the federal government.
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