By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
More voices, local and diaspora, have condemned Abuja’s kidnap of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya and demanded respect for his fundamental human rights as President Muhammadu Buhari presses on with his threat against the Igbos.
Buhari, who pours fuel on separatist agitations with his incendiary comments and conduct – rather than dialogue with them for a Nigerian nation hoisted on equity and justice – has described the Igbos as “a dot in a cycle” that can be easily wiped out.
The arrest of Kanu, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) leader, is seen by the South East as further proof of the Fulani supremacist agenda being pursued by Buhari, who spares Islamist jihadists that kidnap even pupils in the North for ransom.
The latest round of demand for Kanu’s fundamental human rights came from Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe and Coalition of Igbo-British lawyers based in the United Kingdom.
Also voicing concern is Nzuko Umunna, a think-tank comprising Igbo personalities at home and in the diaspora.
Abaribe urged caution and adherence to the rule of law in dealing with Kanu, referring the government to Section 31 of Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights as it detains him for continuation of his trial.
Both the section and the charter say a detainee should be treated humanely while in the custody of the state.
“What it means is that it is the duty of the government in this instance to protect him and ensure the respect of his fundamental human rights while his trial lasts. For now, it is trite law, that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty”, Abaribe said.
He called for calm, saying the recent events present ample opportunity for dialogue and for Abuja to address the underlying issues that challenge peace and unity.
Igbo-British lawyers condemn ‘illegal detention’
The Coalition of Igbo-British lawyers condemns the “illegal detention” and handing over of Kanu to the Nigerian government by the Kenyan government.
A statement issued by E. R. Okoroafor, the Coalition attorney, condemned the “illegal and archaic manner” in which Kenya acted in the “illegal detention” of Kanu and handing him over to Nigeria “without any due process.”
He said Kanu entered Kenya with a British passport and “the Kenya government is fully aware of his citizenship status” yet “perpetrated their illegal act” to breach his human rights and undermine the sovereignty of the British government.
“This serves as a pre-action notice to the Kenyan Government as we shall be heading to the International Criminal Court to rectify the injustice done as it is trite law that injustice to one is injustice to all,” the statement said.
“We are also by this medium informing the Nigerian Government that they have 48h hours to return … Kanu to the United Kingdom, and if he has any charges to answer to, they should as a nation that is governed by the constitution, pass through the legal means of filing an extradition notice as failure to do so.
“We shall not hesitate to term this an a declaration of war on not only … Kanu and IPOB but on all IGBOS generally, and this we shall vehemently resist with all apparatus of law available at our disposal.”
Okoroafor said while all this is been done the Nigerian government is also being “warned that no bodily harm whatsoever must be done to … Kanu to avoid a total breakdown of law and other in the fast crumbling entity called Nigeria.”
Nzuko Umunna seeks protection of human rights
A statement issued by Nzuko Umunna, signed by Joe Odumuko (Executive Secretary) and Uju Agomoh (Deputy Executive Secretary), noted the “interception” of Kanu by the government and stressed the following:
1. Details of arrest
While the government is yet to provide details on the circumstances of the “interception” we hope his arrest accords with international law and conventions to which Nigeria is obligated.
2. Kanu’s fundamental human rights
We ask the government to ensure that Kanu’s fundamental human rights are secured to the fullest extent possible.
Section 31 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights obligate the government to ensure that Kanu does not suffer any bodily harm while in the custody of the state and its agencies.
It is the responsibility of the government to secure the bodily integrity and personal dignity of Kanu while in its custody.
“We shall hold the Nigerian Government and all state actors to account on this obligation under domestic and international laws to the fullest extent possible.”
3. Prosecution of those who threaten Kanu
We demand the prosecution of any person or group that has issued threat to kill or inflict bodily harm on Kanu in the course of his trial.
“The government must demonstrate that it is not complicit in these repeated threats, especially as the purveyors have never been interrogated, arrested or brought to justice.”
4. Right to fair trial
Kanu’s trial has been adjourned to July 26, 2021 and the government and the judiciary must secure his right to fair trial as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and under international law.
As Kanu has been profiled as an enemy of the state, the need to ensure a fair and transparent trial becomes more urgent. “Any effort to intimidate the judiciary must be discouraged by all stakeholders.”
5. National dialogue on unity
In line with our “commitment to peace and to a sustainable resolution” of the Kanu debacle, we urge the government to rethink its security and peace-building strategies and adopt a more conciliatory approach towards resolving national challenges.
Most respected national leaders have called for a national dialogue to stave off the prospects of Nigeria becoming a failed state. We urge Abuja to key into this initiative.
“Instructively, a seeming predilection to the jackboot strategy has only yielded more sweat, blood and tears for our bleeding nation.
“The killing of Mohammed Yusuf and its aftermath are still fresh in our minds, even as the followers of detained cleric, Ibrahim el Zakzaky, continue to press his case.”
6. Resolving Kanu’s case with wisdom
We urge the government to view the Kanu debacle as “fundamentally a political case that must be resolved with uncommon wisdom.”
“We cannot continue on the path of anarchy and ceaseless bloodletting that has seized our nation by the jugular for years.”
The government “must show a commitment to listen to its restive youth now scattered across all regions of the country. A stitch in time saves nine.”
7. Assistance to Abuja
We commit to assist the federal government in this process.
