The Kenya government has denied claims of involvement in the arrest and extradition of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria.
Kenya High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Wilfred Machage, said this at a media briefing in Abuja Friday, July 2, saying “it does not want to be dragged into Nigeria’s internal affairs.”
The allegation, according to Machage, was “concocted” to pitch Nigerians in the South-east against the Kenyan people.
“I want to address the allegation by denying that Kenya was involved in the alleged arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria of Mr Kanu. The allegation is fictional, imaginary and deliberately concocted to fuel antagonistic feeling amongst the southern section of the Nigerian people against the Kenya people.
Indeed many countries have been accused — Rwanda, Czech Republic, Britain, Ethiopia — and God knows which other countries.
I want to challenge anyone with facts relating to this alleged arrest in Kenya to present this fact. This will include how and who was particularly involved in the alleged arrest.
Nigeria is a sovereign country. It’s your country. Instead of facing the Kenyan high commission in Nigeria to ask some of these questions, you should face your government. The government of Nigeria knows how they arrested him. They have the answers, not me,” he said.
Recall that days after Kanu was paraded in Abuja, his younger brother alleged that he was arrested and extradited from Kenya.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Security Service has agreed to allow Nnamdi Kanu to meet with his lawyers.
This was disclosed by Nnamdi Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor through his Twitter handle on Friday.
“Update, Thankfully Our effort is yielding the desired result, We have just received a communication approving Our visit to Our Client- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Shall keep the World posted on the outcome, immediately after the meeting, later in the Day. God is with Us,” Ejiofor tweeted.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Nigerian Secret Police since he was arrested and repatriated from Kenya to Nigeria on Sunday to face trial after jumping bail in 2017 for charges bothering on terrorism, treasonable felony, illegal possession of arms among others, levied against him.
The IPOB leader is scheduled to appear before Federal High Court, Abuja for the continuation of his trial from July 26-27, 2021.
