The British Government said it has open talks with the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the arrest and extradition of the fugitive leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
According the British High Commission in Nigeria, its government is in talks with the Nigerian government in a bid to seek clarification regarding the situation surrounding the arrest, extradition and prosecution of Kanu.
Recall that The New Diplomat had reported that Kanu who had jumped bail and fled the country in 2017 was re-arrested and brought back to the country on Sunday.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami who addressed a press conference at the Ministry of Justice, Abuja, disclosed that Kanu was arrested through the joint efforts of the Nigerian intelligence community and Interpol. He, however stopped short of disclosing where the fugitive leader was re-arrested.
Also, the the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement had claimed that their leader was apprehended in Kenya.
According to him, Kanu was allegedly unlawfully arrested in the East African country and extradited to Nigeria.
Amid the public inquiry into how the fugitive leader was re-arrested, Dean Hurlock, a spokesperson of the British High Commission in Nigeria, in a statement said the UK government expects Nigeria to follow the rule of law in the prosecution of Kanu, disclosing that the commission has opened communication with the federal government.
Kanu is a dual citizen of both Nigeria and Britain.
In the statement, Hurlock said the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office “stands ready to provide consular assistance” regarding the matter.
“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.
He added that the UK “would expect any trial or legal proceedings to follow due process” as Kanu’s prosecution resumes.
Kanu has been remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court made the order for his remand on Tuesday.
He is being tried on 11 count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms, improper importation of goods, among other weighty allegations.
