“​I applaud your decision to consider the release of Nnamdi Kanu not withstanding as you said in your statement, that granting the request will have great consequences,” Professor Nwabueze said in a statement on Saturday.

President Buhari on Friday had promised to consider releasing Kanu after meeting with a group of leaders from the South East under the aegis of Highly Respected Igbo Greats.

However, he described the request as “an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country” as it would mean interfering with the work of the judiciary.

“In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary,” the President said