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‘FG’s fresh charges against Kanu delay tactics against his release’

By Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia
10 March 2022   |   2:45 am
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that the fresh charges against its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is the Federal Government’s delay tactics

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Leader, Nnamdi Kanu

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that the fresh charges against its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is the Federal Government’s delay tactics to keep him in perpetual detention in the Department of State Service (DSS) custody.

In a statement issued, yesterday, by its Spokesman, Emma Powerful, the group stated that the Federal Government, in its desperation to manufacture offences that may provide suitable grounds to proffer charges where no offence known to law existed, amended six charges filed against Kanu.

Wondering what happened to the treasonable felony charge he stated was earlier preferred against Kanu, he argued that the government has amended it to the present new 15 count charges, which he said still hold no water.

“If Nigeria government and its Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) knows what they are doing, they should save themselves from the disgrace that is about to befall them because Nnamdi Kanu committed no offence known to the laws of Nigeria and the world for that matter

“As far as Kanu’s extradition from Kenya is concerned, it is a grievous infraction on international conventions, treaties and protocol to which Nigeria is a signatory,” the statement reads.

He stated that there is no court in Nigeria competent enough to hear any of the charges filed against Kanu without first undoing the illegality that brought him to Nigeria by taking him back to the country from where he was extradited.

“Even the Attorney General of the Federation, Abuhbakar Malami in an extract he endorsed from a United Nation’s Study on Extradition concerning Nigeria, agreed that extraordinary rendition is in itself, a crime against humanity.

“Rendition is a general term for all procedures including extradition for returning wanted persons or aliens generally from one jurisdiction to another. Unlawful or irregular ways of returning wanted persons for trial include abduction, kidnapping and the extraordinary rendition.

“Extraordinary rendition is a government-sponsored arrest, kidnap and abductions of persons wanted, accused or convicted of a criminal offence either against the state who sponsored the arrest, kidnap or abduction or to willing third party,” the statement reads.

Powerful argues that such rendition denies a person the right to challenge his transfer to the receiving state just as it involves a violation of the principles of international law, especially where the persons transferred are subjected to torture over criminal charges or trials.

He described the extract as incisive information on extraordinary rendition approved by the AGF stating that he is a person guilty of the infractions he preaches against, adding that the Federal Government should release Kanu unconditionally without further delay.

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