Former Senate Minority Leader and the lawmaker representing Abia South District, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, on Friday, refuted a viral statement attributed to him in which he allegedly threatened to disrupt plenary and shut down the National Assembly if President Bola Tinubu did not call for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, from detention.
Abaribe’s denial was conveyed in a statement issued by his media aide, Uchenna Awom, in Abuja.
The alleged statement surfaced two days after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja postponed Kanu’s trial to March 21. The report quickly spread across multiple social media platforms on Friday.
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It partly read, “Chaos erupted at the Nigerian National Assembly today as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe took a dramatic stand, demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. The senator, who previously stood as a surety for Kanu’s bail, vowed that legislative proceedings would not continue until his demand was met.
“Abaribe arrived at the National Assembly wielding a placard and blocking key access roads, declaring that “enough is enough.” He insisted that the prolonged detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader was unjust and against the rule of law.
“As a surety, I have always stood with Nnamdi Kanu, and I will continue to do so until justice prevails,” Abaribe stated. “From this moment, nothing will function in Nigeria until Kanu is released, as required by law. The Igbo people are not fools—we have been patient long enough. If President Tinubu insists on lawlessness, then let it be total lawlessness.”
Abaribe, however, dismissed the statement as a falsehood intentionally spread to undermine the ongoing efforts to find political solutions for securing Kanu’s release.
The lawmaker also urged Nigerians to disregard the speculation.
He said, “The report is false and was, at best, a concoction that defies logic. It was a deliberate misinformation that insinuates a sinister motive aimed at sabotaging the ongoing efforts at exploring a political solution to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Abaribe was last seen on the Senate floor last Wednesday and travelled out of Abuja on Thursday for an oversight function in Ikwuano Umuahia, Abia State organised by the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission
“In any case, the Senate does not sit on Fridays. It conducts its plenary sessions from Tuesdays to Thursdays, making the claim of a shutdown on a Friday baseless. Subjudice matters (under judicial consideration) are not debated in the Senate.”
Abaribe further explained that Kanu’s case is presently in court, and as a matter of principle, the National Assembly does not intervene in judicial matters.
“Therefore, Senator Abaribe couldn’t have embarked on such an effort knowing its futility. The truth is that he did not lead any protest or obstructed legislative proceedings. The public is therefore urged to disregard this fabricated report and refrain from sharing unverified information.”
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