A South-East traditional ruler has called on President Bola Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, or send him back to Kenya, where he was allegedly arrested.
The monarch, Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, Dr Lawrence Agubuzu, made the appeal on Tuesday during the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
According to him, Kanu’s continued detention is fueling anger and agitation among youths in the South-East, warning that traditional rulers in the region are gradually losing respect and credibility.
He urged the President to take urgent action, saying the country could not progress without addressing the issue.
Agubuzu also questioned the unity message preached by the Ooni of Ife at the summit, alleging that the same traditional leader was planning to honour Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Igboho, whom he described as Kanu’s equivalent in the South-West.
“The ball stops in your court. Bring this man out,” the monarch said, adding that some youths in the region now see their traditional leaders as sell-outs who only visit Abuja for personal gain.
In response, the Ooni of Ife, who chairs the Southern Traditional Rulers Council, insisted that the council remains united and that membership is voluntary.
He dismissed claims of division, saying the council is a strong platform bringing together respected monarchs across southern Nigeria.
Also reacting, the Eze Aro IX of Arochukwu Kingdom in Abia State, Dr Eberechukwu Oji, who serves as the council’s publicity secretary, defended the council’s legitimacy and said it has remained active since its inauguration.
Meanwhile, Kanu’s case remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial legal battles. After his re-arrest in 2021 and return to Nigeria from Kenya, his trial continued until he was convicted in November 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
His transfer to the Sokoto Correctional Centre later sparked fresh criticism from his legal team, who argued it was meant to frustrate his appeal process.
