On Friday, April 4, the family of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), warned people not to make statements about him without their approval.
This came after a statement went viral from Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, the President-General of the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in Abuja, which claimed that Kanu was “confident of his release from detention by April 2025.”
In the statement, which was shared widely on social media, it was reported that Kanu had also criticized Igbo political leaders for not supporting him. Engr. Ellis-Ezenekwe had visited Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, April 2, and made these claims in his statement.
He said, “Kanu, despite being in detention, appeared healthy, had gained weight, and remained in high spirits.” The ICA leader also mentioned that Kanu “expressed hope that the courts would grant him freedom in the coming weeks.”
However, Nnamdi Kanu’s family quickly responded, making it clear that any information about Kanu must come directly from his lawyers or family. They said that people should not trust or spread information from others claiming to speak for him.
In a statement released by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the family said, “While we’re not against concerned persons, especially Igbo leaders, visiting our son, it’s inappropriate for unauthorized persons to be issuing statements that could further complicate issues for him.”
They added, “We, therefore, advise that his visitors should seek clearance from his lawyers or the family before going public on any interactions with Nnamdi Kanu.”
Kanu has been in solitary confinement at the DSS headquarters in Abuja since he was brought back to Nigeria in June 2021. Despite several court orders for his release, the government has refused to set him free.
