The United Nations Working Group has asked Nigerian and Kenyan governments to explain how the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and subsequently extradited.


The Nigerian government had in June announced Kanu’s arrest and ‘extradition’ from Kenya to continue to face trial in Nigeria.


He is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of the campaign for the Independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.

The IPOB leader was granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons but he fled Nigeria following an invasion of his home in Abia State by the military.

However, the United Nations Working Group on arbitrary detention, under the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), demanded explanations regarding Kanu’s illegal arrest and abduction in separate letters to the Nigerian and Kenyan governments on August 26, 2021.

The UN group noted in both letters that it also sent the British government, and the Nigerian or Kenyan government as the case may be.

The group comprises scholars and experts who specialise in human rights issues and related laws.

It noted in both letters that it received information “concerning allegations of enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, by Kenyan security officials, as well as his illegal rendition to Nigeria, to face trial for terrorism related charges, which are believed to be linked to his leadership of the ‘Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’ group. It asked the government to respond to the allegations of Kanu’s illegal abduction, ill treatment and others”.


It noted that as part of the allegations, “In May 2021, Mr. Kanu travelled to Nairobi, Kenya. On 19 June 2021, he went to pick up a friend from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was allegedly abducted. For the next ten days, Mr. Kanu’s fate and whereabouts were unknown.


“It was later reported that during his enforced disappearance, Mr. Kanu had been arrested at the airport’s parking lot, by a group of armed men in uniform believed to be Kenyan officials, without warrant or judicial order, who handcuffed and blindfolded him and pushed him into a vehicle. He was then taken to a private house, where he was detained for 8 days and allegedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment. During this period, Mr. Kanu was chained to the floor at all times, regularly beaten with a cloth over his mouth to prevent him from screaming, taunted and called a ‘terrorist Jew Biafran’, denied access to bath and toilet facilities, requiring him to urinate and defecate where he was chained, and was fed bread and water once a day.


“After 8 days of arbitrary detention in Kenya, Mr. Kanu was driven to the tarmac of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, handed over to Nigerian security officials, without any form of extradition or judicial process, and taken aboard a private jet to Abuja, Nigeria. On 29 June 2021, Mr. Kanu appeared before the Nigerian Federal High Court, in Abuja, in handcuffs and leg restraints, and was arraigned, without access to legal representation, based on previous charges brought against him in 2015.”


The UN group, therefore, stated that: “In view of the urgency of the matter, we would appreciate a response on the initial steps taken by your Excellency’s Government to safeguard the rights of the above-mentioned person in compliance with international instruments.”

From the Nigerian Government led by Muhammadu Buhari, it requested that it should “Please provide any additional information and any comment you may have on the above-mentioned allegations.

“Please provide detailed information on the current state of health of Mr. Kanu and the measures undertaken, or forseen, to prevent any irreparable damage to his life and personal integrity and to ensure that he has access to the medications and medical treatment required by his health conditions.

“Please provide detailed information on the circumstances under which Mr. Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Please also clarify any international cooperation measures that may have taken place to arrest and transfer Mr. Kanu and provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest.

“Please provide detailed information on the factual and legal grounds of the arrest and detention of Mr. Kanu, as well as formal charges against him, and the legal provisions used to charge him.


“Please provide full information on the period between 19 - 29 June 2021, during which Mr. Kanu was subjected to enforced disappearance, including his whereabouts and the conditions in which he was held, on the informal detention facilities during this period and explain how this is compatible with the international human rights obligations of Nigeria. Please provide information on whether an investigation was carried out into the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr. Kanu during this period of time, and whether those responsible have been held accountable.


“Please provide information on the measures taken to investigate the above-mentioned allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against Mr. Kanu during his detention in Nigeria and to hold those responsible accountable.


“Please provide full information on measures which have been taken, or which are foreseen, to guarantee the conduct of criminal proceedings by independent and impartial judicial authorities, in full compliance with the norms of due process recognised by international law, and the observance of fundamental safeguards, including unrestrained and confidential access a lawyer, to consular assistance, and to an independent medical doctor, as well as regular contact with his family.


“Please provide information in details of how your Excellency’s Government’s counter-terrorism efforts comply with the United Nations Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1456(2003), 1566 (2004), 1624 (2005), 2178 (2014), 2341 (2017), 2354 (2017), 2368 (2017), 2370 (2017), 2395 (2017) and 2396 (2017); as well as Human Rights Council resolution 35/34 and General Assembly resolutions 49/60, 51/210, 72/123, 72/180 and 73/174 in particular with international human rights law, refugee law, and humanitarian law contained therein.”

Meanwhile, in its letter to the Kenyan government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, it requested: “Please provide any additional information and any comment you may have on the above-mentioned allegations.

“Please provide detailed information on the circumstances under which Mr. Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Please also clarify any international cooperation measures that may have taken place to arrest and transfer Mr. Kanu, and provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest, and the authorities who arrested and detained him in Kenya.

“Please provide detailed information on the factual and legal grounds of the arrest and detention of Mr. Kanu, as well as formal charges against him, and the legal provisions used to charge him.


“Please provide full information on the period between 19 - 29 June 2021, during which Mr. Kanu was subjected to enforced disappearance, including his whereabouts and the conditions in which he was held, on the informal detention facilities during this period and explain how this is compatible with the international human rights obligations of Kenya. Please provide information on whether an investigation was carried out into the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr. Kanu during this period of time, and whether those responsible have been held accountable.

“Please provide detailed information, where available, on risk assessment carried out by the Kenyan authorities to ascertain the risk Mr. Kanu may incur, including being subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as well as arbitrary detention upon his extradition to Nigeria, and how this assessment is compatible with the international standards.


“Please provide information on the measures taken to investigate the above-mentioned allegations of torture and ill-treatment perpetrated against Mr. Kanu during his detention in Kenya and to hold those responsible accountable.”

“This communication and any response received from your Excellency’s Government will be made public via the communications reporting website within 60 days. They will also subsequently be made available in the usual report to be presented to the Human Rights Council,” the UN group added in both letters

http://saharareporters.com/2021/10/26/documents-list-un-demands-queries-nigerian-kenyan-governments-over-nnamdi-kanu%E2%80%99s-arrest

Lalasticlala Lalasticlala

Mynd44 Mynd44

What awaits d unintelligent FG handlers on this Mazi Nnamdi Kanu matter will be humongous. This could explain why d confused Federal Attorney Malami became confused and attributed every known crime and incident to Kanu and IPOB including desecration of Oba of Lagos palace during EndSARS. Till date no known country to d best of my knowledge has tagged IPOB as terrorists but only Fulani controlled Buhari Govt did where as every other sane country knows Fulani herdsmen as d 4th most dangerous terrorist group but only d Buhari govt is yet to recognize that. The Entire Legislative arm and d entire 36 Speakers of State Assemblies have both called on d tagging of Bandits as terrorists but their problem is IPOB whose only request is Referendum. If u understand d meaning of the "URGENT' before the appeal u will understand d shame awaiting Nigerian Govt from now.

jlinkd78:
What awaits d unintelligent FG handlers on this Mazi Nnamdi Kanu matter will be humongous. This could explain why d confused Federal Attorney Malami became confused and attributed every known crime and incident to Kanu and IPOB including desecration of Oba of Lagos palace during EndSARS. Till date no known country to d best of my knowledge has tagged IPOB as terrorists but only Fulani controlled Buhari Govt did where as every other sane country knows Fulani herdsmen as d 4th most dangerous terrorist group but only d Buhari govt is yet to recognize that. The Entire Legislative arm and d entire 36 Speakers of State Assemblies have both called on d tagging of Bandits as terrorists but their problem is IPOB whose only request is Referendum. If u understand d meaning of the "URGENT' before the appeal u will understand d shame awaiting Nigerian Govt from now.

Too many children on Nairaland, Wait United Nations & The G7 Nations are coming to release the Terrorist.

jlinkd78:
What awaits d unintelligent FG handlers on this Mazi Nnamdi Kanu matter will be humongous. This could explain why d confused Federal Attorney Malami became confused and attributed every known crime and incident to Kanu and IPOB including desecration of Oba of Lagos palace during EndSARS. Till date no known country to d best of my knowledge has tagged IPOB as terrorists but only Fulani controlled Buhari Govt did where as every other sane country knows Fulani herdsmen as d 4th most dangerous terrorist group but only d Buhari govt is yet to recognize that. The Entire Legislative arm and d entire 36 Speakers of State Assemblies have both called on d tagging of Bandits as terrorists but their problem is IPOB whose only request is Referendum. If u understand d meaning of the "URGENT' before the appeal u will understand d shame awaiting Nigerian Govt from now.

The organization ipob has been proscribed in Nigeria since 2017, The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no interest whatsoever in what they exclaim. Ordinary Federal election you can’t win, you are the minority, Empty Barrels so you think you can get what you want by forming agitation? Sorry for you.

If you like, petition heaven. Kanu will not be released till at least 2023.
Know this and know peace

I thought fulani terrorists and their ewedu muslim slaves claimed IPOB are 'terrorists'?

So UN are listening to "terrorists'?

We told you that tag won't stick. We told that anytime you call 'IPOB' terrorists, you'd look like idiots to the world.

Even your booharri was afraid of being seen as a laughable buffoon at the UN general assembly that was why he avoided 'IPOB' when he mentioned the terrorist groups in nigeria.

Zombies, booharri don scam una.

Commentor my mooslim pro-abokeyna friend, how you see am?

Kanu was wanted in Nigeria for jumping bail. The Nigerian government suddenly found him at a Nigerian airport and arrested him to continue his day in court.

Issues like these will not and never seize as long as a slowpoke keep been the president. A fool at forty is a fool forever. 1982 you were a fool, 2015 you are still a fool. 2021... Only God knows. NMK even if I don't really like his style is far better than all you terrorist combined plus that head slammer looking for national identification nonsense. Tufia!
Thunder fire you if you mentioned me negatively.

zoedew:
Kanu was wanted in Nigeria for jumping bail. The Nigerian government suddenly found him at a Nigerian airport and arrested him to continue his day in court.

write it on paper and send it to UN.

ok

Moferere:
If you like, petition heaven. Kanu will not be released till at least 2023.
Know this and know peace

I thought you said he's would die in detention?

Buhari don buy market MNK is bigger than what they said he is
Man with the biggest mass movement on earth.
I love this IPOB guys. They are more than formidable

gloating over MNKs abduction has turned into a nightmare for Buhari and his group.
Go and read the story of Joseph and how he became a king in Egypt. its about to happen again

Lalasticlala Lalasticlala

A Govt that reintegrates deadly terrorists into the society...and even recruits them into the armed forces, must have an agenda.

Why should terr0rists who have wasted innocent lives for no reason be pardoned and released from prison while freedom fighters are hounded up and down like criminals, called terrorists, incarcerated and oftentimes, killed?

Terr0rist govt

Malami may end up asking for more time to reply the query.

Then he will understand that UN is not Nigeria.

Believe, there are countries currently asking UN to force Nigeria to organise referendum for Biafrans.

The query is the prelude.

O setigo.

adamsmith914:
The organization ipob has been proscribed in Nigeria since 2017, The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no interest whatsoever in what they exclaim. Ordinary Federal election you can’t win, you are the minority, Empty Barrels so you think you can get what you want by forming agitation? Sorry for you.

Ipob prescription case is still in higher court. Ipob did not have militant wing when it was proscribed. After prescription, ipob created esn, started sit-at-home campaign etc. Prescription has not solved the problem. Issue of separation is delicate in international community. There are always willing international partners in secession agitation. Countries want to sell weapons. Counties want to business.

World view of secession has changed since end of cold war.
FG has to be careful in handling secession agitation.

Sunday2021:
see mumu! The same way the US comply with the UN resolution to kill Osama bin laden is the same way Nigeria comply to arrest a terrorist called Namdi kanu.

Why abusing him?. US has veto power in UNSC. Do Nigeria have such power?

According to fela the great waiting united o for united nations
No be there Iraq vs Iran,
USA vs Afghanistan.

List of Queries from U.N to Nigerian govt Pls move to front page for information purpose.
Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

zoedew:
Kanu was wanted in Nigeria for jumping bail. The Nigerian government suddenly found him at a Nigerian airport and arrested him to continue his day in court.

United nation don't have this kind of low IQ like you .

Sunday2021:
see mumu! The same way the US comply with the UN resolution to kill Osama bin laden is the same way Nigeria comply to arrest a terrorist called Namdi kanu.

what does nigeria bring to the table in comity in the comity of nation , if truly this news is true, nigeria will be pressure to succumb

joyandfaith:


Why abusing him?. US has veto power in UNSC. Do Nigeria have such power?

as in ehh those village illiterates can't just reason , can Nigeria play the big boy's game in international Politics? Absolute no

Nigeria play enter this potopoto

funkekemi:
United nation don't have this kind of low IQ like you .

Hmmmm! That is the type of response Nigeria is likely to give to The UNO. That is what I was trying to pass across. Prof Chinua Achebe long ago advised against loudness in intellectual engagements. It gives one out as an empty barrel. “I will be the first to concede that the Igbo as a group is not without its flaws. Its success can and did carry deadly penalties: the dangers of hubris, overweening pride, and thoughtlessness, which invite envy and hatred or, even worse, than can obsess the mind with material success and dispose it to all kinds of crude showiness. There is no doubt at all that there is a strand in contemporary Igbo behavior that can offend by its noisy exhibitionism and disregard for humility and quietness.” - Chinua Achebe