In a direct and impassioned plea at the Aso Rock Villa, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Enugu State, challenged President Bola Tinubu to resolve the legal saga of Nnamdi Kanu once and for all.

Speaking during the 2026 National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health, the monarch did not mince words, telling the President that the continued detention of the IPOB leader is undermining the credibility of South East traditional rulers.

Igwe Agubuzu offered the President a sharp ultimatum regarding Kanu’s current status:

• “Bring Him Out”: The monarch demanded Kanu’s immediate release, citing the “pain in his heart” that Kanu is currently serving a life sentence in a Sokoto correctional facility.
• “Return Him to Kenya”: If the Federal Government is unwilling to let him walk free in Nigeria, the monarch suggested he be returned to Kenya or the United Kingdom (where he was renditioned from in 2021).
• The Credibility Gap: He warned that South East youths now view traditional rulers as “sell-outs” who come to Abuja only to “collect money and keep quiet,” leading to a breakdown of authority in the region.

The “Igboho Comparison” & Accusations of Hypocrisy

The speech took a controversial turn when Agubuzu openly criticized the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for calling for national unity while allegedly planning a different path for South West agitators.

• The Double Standard: Agubuzu pointed out that while Kanu remains in prison, the Ooni is reportedly arranging to confer a “high traditional honor” on Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho.
• The Quote: “This same Imperial Majesty is arranging to confer a very high honor on Sunday Igboho, who… we see as a counterpart of Nnamdi Kanu… The ball stops in your court, Mr. President.”

The Government’s Response

The Presidency, through Special Adviser Sunday Dare, quickly pushed back against the monarch’s comparison between Kanu and Igboho:

• Different Legal Standing: Dare argued that Igboho’s activism was focused on defending communities against criminal herders, whereas Kanu was convicted of terrorism and insurrection that led to significant loss of life and economic paralysis in the South East.
• Life Imprisonment: Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He has since filed an appeal against that conviction.

Current Status of Nnamdi Kanu

As of today, February 18, 2026, Nnamdi Kanu remains in a high-security prison in Sokoto State. A recent motion filed by his legal team to have him transferred back to a facility closer to his legal counsel was struck out by the court in late January.