Controversial leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) organisation, Nnamdi Kanu, has written a request letter to the UK government to intervene on his behalf by asking President Muhammadu Buhari to release him from detention due to his British citizenship status.
Kanu has been in detention since October 2015, after being arrested by security agents when he arrived in Lagos. He is facing several charges including treason and operating a pirate radio station. Following his detention, Ipob members and supporters have held numerous demonstrations and protests mostly in Nigeria’s southeastern region calling for his unconditional release.
Kanu is facing treason charges along with his two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. He had approached the British government through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor. In a letter dated March 24 and addressed to the British high commissioner in Abuja, Kanu described himself as a victim of a travesty of justice and gross human rights violations.
He maintained that the under the President Buhari’s administration, his fundamental human rights has been violently abused through his prolonged detention in prison custody. Kanu said he was ready to answer to the charges against him but expressed doubt in the ability of the Nigerian government to accord him fair trial, saying he has so far been subjected to immense persecution.
“It is repeating the obvious to state that our client is a full British citizen, by virtue of which position he is entitled to all rights, privileges and protection, guaranteed under British laws and conventions. We are therefore constrained in the circumstance, to formally notify the British government via this medium, of our well informed reservations and apprehension, that our client is undergoing persecution in the charge above referred and deliberate design by the persecutors to frustrate every effort of the defence team aimed at giving our client a fair trial.” Said Ejiofor.
According to Mr Ejiofor, Mr Kanu’s detention since October 14, 2015 without any lawful order of court, was not only unlawful but was in flagrant disobedience of court orders which directed his unconditional release and discharge. He added that Mr Kanu was refused bail on January 29, 2016 after the court cited the facts of his possession of dual passports and named him as a flight risk.
“It is the position of our law, that dual citizenship is a constitutional right of the citizens of Nigeria, clearly provided for under section 28 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011. Dual citizenship is not a crime under our law,” Mr Ejiofor added.
He pointed out that he believed Justice John Tsoho denied Mr Kanu bail in line with the pronouncement of President Buhari in his media chat on December 29, 2015 during which he referred to the matter of dual citizenship. In the interview, President Buhari said that Mr Kanu cannot be granted bail, alleging that he came into the country without a valid traveling passport.
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