The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called on the Federal Government to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, saying the government’s approach to security-related matters appears selective.
In a video currently circulating on social media, the cleric questioned why Kanu remains in detention while prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, continues to move freely despite controversies surrounding some of his public engagements with armed groups.
Primate Ayodele said the government must demonstrate fairness and consistency in its handling of issues affecting national security and public confidence.
“The Nigerian government should release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Since you keep Kanu in prison, why can’t you keep Sheikh Gumi in prison too?” he said while addressing members of his congregation.
“You keep Nnamdi Kanu but Gumi is free. Then, how do you want to now manage the government?
“If Nnamdi Kanu is there, then go and take Gumi. Then Nigerians will believe that the government is serious. Protest will seize this Tinubu government,” he warned.
The cleric’s comments have once again brought public attention to the long-running controversy surrounding Kanu’s detention and the role Sheikh Gumi has played in the country’s security discussions.
Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has remained in the custody of the Federal Government since he was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021 under controversial circumstances. He is facing terrorism-related charges instituted by the Federal Government.
The IPOB leader has repeatedly sought his release through the courts. In October 2022, the Court of Appeal ordered that he be discharged after setting aside the charges against him. However, the Federal Government challenged the judgment at the Supreme Court.
In December 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Kanu should stand trial, holding that although the circumstances surrounding his return to Nigeria raised concerns, they did not automatically extinguish the charges against him. The apex court subsequently directed that his trial should continue at the Federal High Court.
Kanu’s continued detention has remained a sensitive issue, especially in the South-East, where many of his supporters insist that he is being persecuted because of his separatist agitation. Others, however, argue that he should face trial in accordance with the law over allegations linked to violence and insecurity in parts of the region.
On the other hand, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has remained a controversial figure in Nigeria’s security landscape.
The Kaduna-based Islamic scholar became widely known for his efforts to engage bandits operating in the North-West through dialogue. Over the years, he has visited camps of armed groups and publicly advocated negotiations as a strategy to end widespread kidnappings and attacks in the region.
While some people viewed his intervention as a practical attempt to restore peace, critics questioned his access to the criminal groups and accused authorities of treating him differently from other individuals linked, directly or indirectly, to security matters.
Gumi has consistently denied supporting criminal activities, maintaining that his engagements with bandits were aimed solely at persuading them to embrace peace and lay down their arms.
Primate Ayodele’s latest remarks reflect concerns often raised by sections of the public regarding what they describe as unequal treatment in the application of justice.
Although the Federal Government has not officially responded to the cleric’s comments, previous administrations have maintained that decisions relating to Kanu’s prosecution are based on legal considerations and national security concerns rather than ethnic or religious sentiments.
The call also comes at a time when President Bola Tinubu’s administration is facing increasing pressure over the country’s security situation and economic challenges. Nigerians have continued to express frustration over persistent attacks by terrorists and bandits, kidnappings for ransom, and the rising cost of living.
As debate continues, Primate Ayodele’s comments are likely to fuel fresh discussions on whether the government should reconsider Kanu’s continued detention or provide clearer explanations to Nigerians on the differing approaches adopted in handling high-profile figures linked to sensitive national issues.
For now, the Federal Government remains committed to pursuing the legal process in Kanu’s case, while Sheikh Gumi continues his activities as an Islamic cleric and commentator on national security matters.