The United Kingdom, UK, has reacted to the continuous detention of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi kanu, in prison by the Nigerian Government. A British High Commission spokesperson, Mr. Joe Abuku, who made this disclosure in an email sent to Punch on Friday, noted that the UK was closely following Kanu’s case and would give necessary support.
Kanu had earlier sent a letter to the High Commission through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, to protest the abuse of his fundamental human rights by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government. Kanu who is also a British Citizen, had urged the british government to rescue him, as he was not confident of a fair hearing in the Nigerian court.
Responding to Kanu’s plea, Abuku affirmed that he has not been abandoned. He said, “We have provided assistance to Mr. Kanu since his arrest in October last year, including visiting him regularly in prison and attending court appearances in an observation capacity.
“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 the British Laws and Conventions.”
Kanu had also claimed that the President Buhari-led administration had violently abused his fundamental human rights through his protracted detention in prison custody.
Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by men of the Department of State Security, DSS, upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
He is currently facing a six-count treason charge, and has pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered his remand at Kuje prison. .Post-nigeria
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