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Nnamdi Kanu hails Biafra, IPOB supporters as UN condemns Nigeria’s DSS

Published

2 years ago

October 26, 2021

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has sent words to Biafra supporters worldwide..

Kanu commended his loyalists and Igbos supporting the exit of the South-East from Nigeria for staying focused.

A member of his legal team, Aloy Ejimakor, conveyed the message on Tuesday.

“I just concluded a visitation with #Onyendu”, the lawyer tweeted after visiting the Department of State Services (DSS).

“He salutes all Umuchineke for remaining focused on the mission of the moment.

“He’s happy with the ‘Urgppeals’ issued by the UN against Nigeria & Kenya & salutes @MaziKanuntaKanu & Bindmans for their efforts in this regard”, Ejimakor added.

Kanu’s message came as the United Nations (UN) raised concerns about his detention and treatment.

A document by the Special Rapporteur asked Nigeria to provide proof to show it has been complying with international laws.

It said since his movement to Nigeria from Kenya, Kanu was on many occasions denied family visits, confidential access to a lawyer and necessary medical treatment for underlying illness.

“While we do not prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, we would like to express our concern in relation to the enforced disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu from June 19, 2021, until his reappearance at Nigerian Federal High Court in Abuja on June 29, 2021, and his reported illegal rendition from Nairobi to Abuja without judicial process.

“We are further alarmed by the alleged torture and ill-treatment Mr Kanu has been subjected to during his detention by the DSS in Nigeria. If confirmed, these allegations would constitute prima facie violations of fundamental human rights, including the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of liberty and the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights.

“The Committee against Torture and the UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly concluded that enforced disappearances may amount to torture and other forms of ill-treatment both with regard to the disappeared and with regard to their family members, due to the anguish and uncertainty concerning the date and whereabouts of loved ones.

“As it is our responsibility under the mandates provided to us by the Human Rights Council to seek to clarify all cases brought to our attention, we would be grateful for your observations on the following matters: 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 foreseen, 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 in which Mr Kanu was arrested, forcibly disappeared before being handed over to Nigerian authorities and transferred from Nairobi to Abuja. Also provide any international arrest warrant that may have been issued against him, prior to his arrest”, the document read.

The UN also requested information on the factual, legal grounds of Kanu’s arrest; charges against him and the legal provisions used to charge him.

Kanu remains in DSS custody, one of the most secured in the country. The secessionist’s lawyers had pushed for his transfer to the Kuje Correctional Centre.

But that is not likely to happen, a source told Edujandon.com in July after Kanu’s first court appearance.

Intelligence agencies uncovered that IPOB militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), had been placed on alert to breach any prison Kanu is kept.