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Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

The Catholic priest was reported to have made the call during a sermon on Sunday, at his adoration ground.

Mbaka stated that he made the request when some government agents allegedly came calling with some offers.

He said, “Some persons came to me some time ago that they have two slots for me. I told them I don’t need such offers because I have a slot that I need. They said I should mention what I need.

“My first request was that they should release Nnamdi Kanu because since you people arrested him, we have lost many lives, so of what use is his arrest if after he was arrested, kidnapping hasn’t stopped in the North? Arresting him doesn’t solve the problem.”

“Where were the nation’s security agencies when several students were kidnapped?” he asked while urging the government to use the same energy used in arresting Kanu to arrest kidnappers.

Mbaka attributed the rise in banditry and kidnapping to the activities of the politicians who purchase arms for the thugs during elections, advised the government to use the same vigour used in arresting Kanu to arrest insecurity, poverty, unemployment, activities of herdsmen, injustice and nepotism.

The British passport on which the re-arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, purportedly travelled to Kenya, still remains in the East African country, The Guardian of London reported Saturday.

Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in what the federal government called international collaborative efforts late last month.

Kenya had denied involvement in the operation.

Kanu later admitted to his counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor that he was indeed nabbed in Nairobi from where he was flown to Abuja to continue his trial for treasonable felony.

But The Guardian in its report said evidence seen by it showed that Kanu entered Kenya this year on his British passport on a visa expiring in June.

It said the passport remains in Kenya.

The newspaper Saturday quoted Kingsley, Kanu’s bother, as saying he had spoken to him while he was in Kenya days before he went missing last month.

His words: “I spoke to him on the phone, he was well in Nairobi.

“His associates said he went out, he didn’t take his documents with him so he wasn’t planning on going anywhere.

“Then all of a sudden we see him paraded in handcuffs in Abuja.

“It is an extraordinary rendition, aided by Kenyan authorities.

“It is an outrage that cannot be allowed to happen. We are holding the Nigerian government and Kenyan government responsible.

“The British government, they know what is happening.”

Kingsly Kanu also said UK officials had made contact with the family and legal team and that there were concerns he would be abused in detention.

He said: “I am concerned for his wellbeing because you know how they will treat him.”

Kanu also claimed that his brother was not in possession of a Nigerian passport as he had verbally renounced Nigerian citizenship in broadcasts on Radio Biafra.

The British newspaper said abduction of a person from a foreign country with the aim of rendition to justice is illegal under international law.

But Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami has repeatedly denied that Kanu’s re-arrest was illegal as Nigeria applied due process in Kanu’s extradition.

“It was abundantly clear that bench warrant was lawfully and judiciously procured through judicial process by a competent court of law, whose bail condition Nnamdi Kanu breached with impunity,” the minister said last week.

He added: “There was no illegality in the entire process and the question of illegality does not even arise.

“It is a common principle of the law that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has  bared its mind on the interception and re-arraignment of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

National Executive Committee (NEC) of the apex Igbo body rose from its meeting in Enugu, Saturday, pledging to monitor every aspect of the trial process.

A communique released by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia said the group has constituted a committee of eminent Igbo lawyers and leaders to track the proceedings throughout the trial.

The communique read: “That Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has observed with keen interest the recent re-arraignment and consequent trial of our son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“That in as much as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not averse to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we however submit that he should be tried within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with global best practices.

“That as part of our avowed determination to ensure the fair trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we have constituted a legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and eminent Igbo leaders to monitor the legal proceedings, throughout the trial.

“That we strongly support the stand taken by the  Southern Governors Forum on anti-open grazing, restructuring, rotation of the President of Nigeria to the South in 2023, and the proposed 5% share of the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB) for the host communities.

“That we identify with the Igbo youths in their grievances with respect to Igbo marginalization, menace of the Fulani herdsmen, etc; however we do not support the use of any form of violence to redress the relative deprivation and prevailing inequality and injustice across the country. We therefore urge the youths to be law abiding and sheath their sword as the South East leaders and stakeholders address these our collective grievances through meaningful dialogue and negotiations.

“That we therefore urge Ndigbo particularly the youths to take the ongoing voters’ registration exercise seriously, as this is the only means that guarantees effective participation in Nigerian politics and a sine qua non to achieving our goals and aspirations in the Nigeria project.”

Source: The Sun