Mystery over arrest and deportation of Nigeria’s fugitive dissident Kanu
Mystery surrounds the arrest and subsequent deportation of the Nigerian wanted secessionist fugitive leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu was arraigned on Tuesday after he was seized in London and airlifted back to Nigeria on June 26, 2021.
However, the British government has denied that the 53-year-old Kanu was arrested or extradited from the United Kingdom.
Dean Hurlock, the Head of Communications of the British High Commission in Nigeria said that the UK will seek clarification from Nigeria on the circumstances surrounding Kanu’s arrest and extradition.
“We can reaffirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK nor was he extradited from the UK. With regards to any questions about the possible legality of his arrest, the British High Commission in Abuja is currently in the process of seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of the arrest,” he said.
In another twist, Kanu’s family claim that he was arrested in Kenya but the government has dismissed claims that it is linked to his arrest.
According to his brother Kingsley, Kanu was arrested and deported from Nairobi.
“We will hold Kenyan and Nigerian government responsible for whatever may happen to my brother. We don’t know why they did this to him. It is an incident of extraordinary rendition,” said Kingsley.
Kanu had apparently arrived in Kenya when he was stopped at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on June 26.
Reports indicate that Kanu was headed for his Nairobi’s Kileleshwa residence when authorities stopped him for questioning before being handed over to Nigerian authorities the following day.
Earlier this week, Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s Minister of Justice thanked the Kenyan government for aiding the arrest of Kanu.
He further said that the arrest was appropriate as there is need for Kanu to go on facing trial.
The fugitive, whose activities have led to the deaths of hundreds of security personnel and civilians in Nigeria’s south east, had jumped bail and fled the country.
He was charged at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday in a continuation of his trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and management of an unlawful organisation.
The court ordered that Kanu be remanded pending the determination of his trial.
Kanu was first arrested in October and faced 11 counts bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.
A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja revoked Kanu’s bail that was granted him on health grounds and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the same date over his failure to appear in court for hearing.
He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian institutions.
Kanu was also accused of instigating violence, especially in south eastern Nigeria, that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para-military, police force and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities.
He escaped to the UK from where he had been commanding his Ipob members and formed a military wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
