The Kenyan government has confirmed that the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, did not go through extradition proceedings.
It disclosed this in a defense filed before a Kenyan court in response to a suit initiated by Kanu’s brother, Kingsley Kanunta.
Kanu’s brother, Kingsley Kanunta disclosed this in a statement he signed, titled: “Kenya confirms in Court that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not undergo extradition proceedings in Kenya.”
The IPOB leader was arrested and extradited from Kenya in June 2021.
Following public outcry, the Kenyan government had denied involvement in Kanu’s arrested and extradition.
However, Kanunta said the Kenyan government has no knowledge of Kanu’s arrest in its country.
According to the statement: “On 2nd November 2021, the Government of Kenya filed its defense to the suit I had earlier filed in Kenya on behalf of my brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“In the said defense that it filed in Court, Kenya has not only persisted in its denials, but it went further to confirm that my brother was denied the benefit of the due process of extradition in Kenya or even a lawful arrest.
“In particular, the defense the Kenyan Government filed in court stated in major part “That there are no extradition proceedings to justify that the Government of Kenya is responsible for the subject’s extradition”.
It further stated “That there is no record from any of the Police station within the Country to indicate that the subject in issue was lawfully arrested and detained for purposes of commencing extradition proceedings”.
He stressed that the stance of the Kenyan government had shown that Kanu’s arrest was unlawful.
Kanunta maintained that the Nigerian Government can not benefit from its wrong doings in Kanu’s case.
“It needs to be emphasized that above admissions have officially confirmed our long-held position that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s transfer from Kenya to Nigeria is unlawful, not lawful as was claimed by the Nigerian Government.
“This latest revelation, officially made in open Court by Kenya, further solidifies our abiding position that the Nigerian Government cannot benefit from its own wrong by subjecting my brother to trial.
“As the the next hearing date unfolds to 7th December 2021, more legal processes will be in view. Our immediate goal is to secure the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention,” the statement added.
