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Nnamdi Kanu: British Lawyers Give Buhari 48-hr, Drag Kenya To ICC
Nnamdi Kanu: British Lawyers Give Buhari 48-hr, Drag Kenya to ICC
A group of British attorneys of Igbo descent has threatened to take Kenya’s government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for detaining British citizen Nnamdi Kanu and then handing him over to the Nigerian government.
iexclusive News Nigeria reports that the Coalition also issued Nigeria’s government a 48-hour deadline to release Nnamdi Kanu, return him to the UK, and follow the proper extradition procedures.
Kenyan police seized and detained Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, who was ultimately given over to the Nigerian government.
Barrister Ebuka Okoroafor signed the lawyers’ declaration, accusing the Kenyan government of violating the IPOB leader’s human rights because he entered the country on British passports.
The Coalition of Igbo-British Lawyers condemned the illegal imprisonment and subsequent handover of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to the Nigerian government by the Kenyan government, according to a statement released by the British government.
The Kenyan government’s actions were branded as archaic and illegal by them.
“It is worth noting that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu entered Kenya on a British passport, and the Kenyan government is fully aware of his citizenship status, yet they went ahead and committed their illegal act, which not only violates Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s personal human rights but also undermines the British government’s sovereignty,” the statement read in part.
The Coalition warned that the Nigerian government’s failure to liberate Kanu and return him to the UK will be interpreted as a declaration of war against the IPOB leader and his group, as well as the entire Igbo people.
“While this acts as a pre-action notice to the Kenyan government, we will be proceeding to the International Criminal Court to correct the injustice, since it is well-established law that what is wrong with one is wrong with all.
We are also informing the Nigerian government that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be returned to the United Kingdom within 48 hours.
“And if he faces any charges, they should, as a constitutionally governed nation, go through the proper process of submitting an extradition notice.”
Nnamdi Kanu must not be subjected to any form of bodily harm, according to the organisation.
The UK government had previously stated that it would communicate with the Buhari administration regarding Kanu’s detention.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office “stands ready to give consular assistance” to the IPOB leader, according to the UK government.
On Tuesday, Nnamdi Kanu was arraigned before Federal High Court Justice Binta Nyako and remanded at the Department of State Service until July 26.