Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has visited the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at a prison facility in Sokoto State, Nigeria, where he is serving his life imprisonment for terrorism.
Otti visited the prison facility on Sunday, accompanied by Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu; the Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna SAN; his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma; and some government officials from Sokoto State,
On 20 November, Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism by a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, after the court found him guilty on all seven counts filed against him by the Nigerian government.
The IPOB leader was then moved from Abuja to Sokoto State prison shortly after the court sentenced him.
Otti, through his media adviser, Ekeoma said the matter would be resolved “administratively” and expressed optimism that Kanu would soon regain his freedom.
The governor was said to have informed Kanu that the Sultan of Sokoto had shown support for a peaceful resolution of the issue.
According to Ekeoma, Otti added — jokingly — that the Sultan had remarked Kanu was now his “subject” and would be turbaned, which drew laughter from the IPOB leader.
Kanu reportedly told Otti he was proud of the development strides in Abia State and urged him to continue prioritising good governance for the benefit of the people.
He also prayed for the governor and his team.
(Photo: Ferdinand Ekeoma)