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Don’t Drag Kenya, Our President Into Kanu’s Purported Arrest – Kenyan High Commissioner
Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Wilfred Machage, has denied the involvement of his home government in the extradition of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu’s family had earlier made an allegation that the IPOB leader was extradited from Kenya through the aid of Kenyan government., according to report.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, said: “I want to address this allegation by denying that Kenya was involved in the alleged arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria of Mr. Kanu. To us therefore these allegations are fictional, imaginary and deliberately concerted to fuel antagonistic feelings among certain section of the Nigerian people.”
He added that: “I want to challenge anyone with facts relating to this alleged arrest in Kenya to present those facts. This includes when, where, how and who was particularly involved in the alleged arrest.”
He said the government and people of Kenya were also disturbed, dismayed and astonished by the unfortunate statement on this alleged arrest in Kenya which was carried in one of the national dailies.
He added: “The Government of Kenya is particularly appalled by the spurious, derogatory and libelous mention of our dear President on this matter as has been reported.”
“I, as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wish to categorically emphasize that our two countries, Kenya and Nigeria, have and continues to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations with both the Federal Government of Nigeria and its great accommodating and amiable citizens,” Machage said.
He noted that Kenya was committed to sustaining the historical bond of friendship between the two countries and further cement diplomatic relations with the view of ensuring beneficial relations.
He urged that Kenya should not be dragged into the issue as she has no question to answer but rather that the citizens of Nigeria should approach the Nigerian government for explanation of where Kanu was arrested from.
He was rearraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The judge had ordered that he should be remanded in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) till July, 26, 2021.
The Federal Government has been silent on the location of Kanu’s arrest.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Kingsley Kalu, a sibling of the IPOB leader, said he was arrested in Kenya.
“Whilst visiting Kenya, Nnamdi Kanu was detained and handed over to the Nigerian authorities who then flew him to Nigeria,” he said.
“My brother has been subject to extraordinary rendition by Kenya and Nigeria. They have violated the most basic principles of the rule of law. Extraordinary rendition is one of the most serious crimes states can commit.”
The IPOB leader was standing trial for treason before he fled the country in 2017 after he was granted bail on health grounds. He told the court on Tuesday that he took the action to save his life following a deadly attack on his Umuahia country home in Abia State by the Nigerian military.