The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement for the South-East, Mrs Chioma Wesley, has provided crucial clarification regarding the President's position on the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Presidential Respect for Judicial Process
Speaking with State House correspondents on Monday, November 10, 2025, Wesley emphasized that President Tinubu cannot make any pronouncement on Kanu's case while it remains before the courts. The presidential aide stressed that the President's hands are tied by his commitment to the rule of law and proper judicial procedures.
"Nnamdi Kanu's case is in court, and the President cannot make any pronouncement on it," Wesley stated firmly. "He abides by the rule of law. So, for now, we wait for the court to make that decision."
Context of Growing Calls for Release
Wesley's comments come amid increasing pressure from various quarters, particularly within the South-East region, for the federal government to secure Kanu's release. The IPOB leader faces terrorism charges brought by the Nigerian government, with his trial attracting significant national and international attention.
The presidential aide made these statements after briefing President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja alongside three other regional engagement assistants. This meeting underscored the administration's efforts to maintain open channels with different geopolitical zones across Nigeria.
Citizens' Assembly Initiative
Wesley also detailed her office's innovative approach to community engagement in the South-East. She revealed the establishment of a citizens' assembly designed to create direct communication pathways between the Presidency and local communities.
"We hit the ground running by setting up a citizens' assembly where we can hear all the things that the citizens in the South-East have to talk about the President," she explained. "We are taking the President's policies to the grassroots and making sure that the people know what the President is doing for them."
According to Wesley, feedback represents their "greatest weapon" in effectively representing both the government's initiatives and the people's concerns.
Recent Judicial Developments
The political context of Wesley's statements follows significant recent developments in Kanu's legal proceedings. On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted what he described as a "last opportunity" to the IPOB leader in his ongoing terrorism trial.
In a dramatic turn of events on Monday, October 27, 2025, proceedings took an unusual twist when Justice Omotosho reportedly begged Kanu "in God's name" to cooperate with the court process. The separatist leader, who is defending himself after dismissing his legal team, faces seven counts of terrorism allegations against the Nigerian state.
The case continues to draw intense public interest as both the judiciary and executive branches navigate this highly sensitive matter within the framework of Nigeria's legal system.
