The British High Commission has reacted to report on some sections of the media that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was arrested in their country.
The second Secretary Political/Head of Communications at the British High Commission, Dean Hurlock said that while they can confirm Kanu’s arrest, he was not picked up in the UK where he is based.
The IPOB leader, who is also a UK citizen, had been in the UK since 2017 when he fled Nigeria following the invasion of his Afara-Ukwu home in Umuahia, Abia State.
Abubakar Malami, minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had told journalists on Tuesday that he was picked up on Sunday due to “the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services”.
The AGF did not say specifically, where Mr Kanu was arrested, but Hurlock confirmed to TheCable that it was outside of the UK.
“We can confirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK for extradition purposes,” he said via text message.
Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015, following years of his campaign for the sovereign state of Biafra.
He was granted bail in April 2017 but fled Nigeria in 2017 after soldiers invaded his country home in Abia state during a military clampdown on IPOB members.
His lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor have also confirmed his arrest but demanded that Ifeanyi Kanu’s fundamental rights must be respected while in custody.
“We have just confirmed through a correspondence from the Federal High Court Abuja, about the arrest and the extradition of my Client- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian State.
“It is to be noted, therefore, that no matter the gravity of the offences or charge preferred against him, Section 36(5) of the Constitution still presumes him innocent of the allegation,” the statement by IPOB’s lead counsel reads in part.
