Kenya Govt ‘Distance Self’ From Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest, Extradition

The Kenyan Government has reportedly said that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, did not undergo extradition proceedings in the country.

Ezenwoko's Blog reports that the brother to the IPOB leader, Kanunta Kanu, quoted the Kenyan government in a statement as saying this during a court hearing in the East African country on November 2, 2021.

The statement released by Kanu's Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, claimed that the Kenya authorities said there was no record to show that Kanu was legally arrested or detained in the country.

Kanu noted that Kenya's denial has officially confirmed that the IPOB leader's transfer from Kenya to Nigeria was unlawful and illegal.

He added that Kanu's fundamental human rights were grossly violated, adding that the IPOB leader should not have been extradited to Nigeria without valid court orders.

It reads: ”On 2nd November 2021, the Government of Kenya filed its defense to the suit I had earlier filed in Kenya on behalf of my brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“It will be recalled that following my brother's extraordinary rendition in June this year, the Kenyan Government had publicly issued a series of statements, denying its complicity in this abominable act.

“In the said defense that it filed in Court, Kenya has not only persisted in its denials, but it went further to confirm that my brother was denied the benefit of the due process of extradition in Kenya or even a lawful arrest.

“In particular, the defense the Kenyan Government filed in court stated in major part “That there are no extradition proceedings to justify that the Government of Kenya is responsible for the subject's extradition.

“That there is no OB record from any of the Police stations within the Country to indicate that the subject in issue was lawfully arrested and detained for purposes of commencing extradition proceedings”.

“It needs to be emphasized that above admissions have officially confirmed our long-held position that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's transfer from Kenya to Nigeria is unlawful, not lawful as was claimed by the Nigerian Government.

“This latest revelation, officially made in open Court by Kenya, further solidifies our abiding position that the Nigerian Government cannot benefit from its own wrong by subjecting my brother to trial.

“As the next hearing date unfolds to 7th December 2021, more legal processes will be in view. Our immediate goal is to secure the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.”