Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has insisted that his client was arrested by the security forces in Kenya, contrary to the position of the country’s government.
Ejiofor said this in a statement on Friday after a visit to his client, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), had announced the arrest and extradition of the IPOB leader, which he said was achieved “through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services”.
The Federal Government has, however, remained silent over the location where the separatist leader was arrested.
But Wilfred Machage, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, at a press conference on Friday debunked the claim.
Ejiofor, however, countered the stance of the Kenyan government.
According to the lawyer, Kenya’s Special Police Force arrested Kanu on 18 June at their International airport, and took him to “an undisclosed residence under dehumanising conditions”.
The statement read: “He was tortured and subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment which worsened his health condition. He was illegally detained for eight (8) good days in Kenya before being transferred to their Nigerian counterpart.
“He was purportedly investigated on a bogus charge while in their custody, ostensibly, awaiting to be handed over after their findings proved him innocent of all the spurious allegations. They later beckoned on their Nigerian Counterpart to take over.
“The Kenya government was deeply involved in the abduction, detention and ill-treatment of my Client before the illegal handover to their Nigerian counterpart.”
Ejiofor also stated that his client had developed a heart condition, raising an alarm that his health is worsening while being kept in the DSS custody.
“A scan of his heart showed that the heart has enlarged by 13% due to the dehumanizing treatment meted to him. There will be need for immediate proper medical examination and attention for him,” the statement read.
Ejiofor stated that his client commended IPOB members for their support, adding that he would challenge Kanu’s arrest in court.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu conveyed his goodwill message to all IPOB family members worldwide, and craved for your unrelentless prayers. We are going back to the Court for the needful. Other details cannot be entertained here.
“His fortified legal team will address these infractions at the proper forum as we progress. Other details on our legal strategy, may not be made public.”
Kanu was first arrested in Nigeria 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 after soldiers invaded his residence in Abia State during a military clampdown on IPOB members.
He was brought back to the country on Sunday and arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, two days later.
Nyako ordered that he should be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), until the resumption of his trial on July 26, 2021.
