On How FG Used Interpol To Extradite Kanu
The federal government used Interpol to arrest leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, contrary to claims that it was through covert operation against international best practices.
The federal government used Interpol to arrest leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, contrary to claims that it was through covert operation against international best practices.
He was arrested while in transit through the use of Advanced Passenger Information (API), which has the input of various international airlines, Immigrations, Customs, airports authorities and secret services of various countries.
A top security source that confirmed the use of Interpol to track Kanu but declined to name the country he was picked said API was being used to track Persons of Interest (PoI) as in the case of the IPOB leader.
Ethiopia, Czech Republic, South Africa and Rwanda were all mentioned as the probable countries where Kanu was arrested but this could not be verified by this newspaper as of press time.
Kanu, who jumped bail in 2017 after he was arraigned on charges bordering on treason was reportedly brought back to Nigeria on Sunday using one of the federal government’s aircraft few days after he was nabbed after a “high profile collaboration.
The news of his arrest took the world by surprise as it was not reported in the social and mainstream media until when the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami made it known at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Not even the Biafra Radio announced that its chairman was missing while some of his followers described as false, the news of his arrest.
A top security source confided that Kanu had a few days ago insinuated that Nigeria was trying to use Interpol to get at him.
It was gathered that Kanu could not be arrested in the United Kingdom because of the stringent extradition laws in the country.
An intelligence official who spoke to one of our reporters last night insisted that Nigeria latched on the various pacts it signed with many countries.
He was not arrested using covert operation as applied during the botched attempt to bring back late Umaru Dikko in the 80s when Muhammadu Buhari was military head of state,” the source said.
It is also not true that a woman was used to track him before he was brought back home through the back channels. Nigeria is a democracy. No woman was used because it will amount to an illegal act against a sovereign country.
Through our legal system, the government filed a formal complaint to the Interpol. Kanu was accused of terrorism, acts of violence, incitement of people to carry arms against the Nigerian state. We also said he jumped bail and proved all these claims beyond reasonable doubt.
This is how we succeeded in bringing him back home to face justice. There is a difference between legitimate opposition and subversion/arm struggle.
A judicial process was set and that is why he was taken to court today (yesterday) and the judge directed that he should be remanded in DSS custody. We don’t want a situation whereby any other lawyer can jump and say they want to defend him. We want him to assemble his legal team,” he said.
Kanu to remain in DSS custody till July 26
Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday ordered Kanu’s remand and adjourned the matter to July 26 and 27 for hearing after he was presented to court.
The lead prosecuting counsel to the federal government, Magaji Labaran, while moving an ex parte application, informed the court that the March 28, 2019 order of the court revoking Kanu’s bail and issuing his bench warrant have been enforced and he has been rearrested as ordered.
He, therefore, requested the court order his detention in the DSS custody in the interest of national security.
Labaran further requested the judge to abridge the earlier adjourned date of October 20, 2021, for the trial to an earlier possible date. While granting both applications, the judge, however, directed the federal government to inform his lawyers ahead of the next adjourned date.
Kanu was facing 11-count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, but jumped bail and absconded from the country in September 2017 following a military operation in his community.
While granting the bail on April 25, 2017, on health grounds, Justice Nyako ordered Kanu to produce three sureties in the sum of N100 million bond each.
The judge said the sureties must include a renowned Jewish leader in Nigeria, a political leader of Igbo extraction such as a senator and a highly respected citizen with landed property in Abuja having a verifiable Certificate of Occupancy.
The judge also ordered Kanu to deposit his Nigerian and British International Passports to the registrar of the court.
The judge further made ancillary orders directing the defendant not to grant press interviews or attend rallies of more than 10 persons. Although, Kanu complied with the first two terms of the bail by depositing the bail bond and producing the sureties, the federal government accused him of flouting the other terms of the bail.
FG to file fresh charges against Kanu
A source at the Federal Ministry of Justice told the Daily Trust last night that they were putting in place fresh charges against Kanu.
He also said many things that led to the re-arrest of Kanu would not be made public.
We have an agreement that the country where he was arrested should remain anonymous,” the source said.
However, there was collaboration from local and international partners,” he said.
On how the case would go on, the source said, “Honestly, we are giving considerations to fresh charges because as you rightly know, ever since he jumped bail, there are certain incitements that followed that triggered violence, loss of lives and properties among others.
So, it is only natural that we should look in that direction to see whether we can press for fresh charges; whether we can make amendments to the existing ones or incidental considerations.
And then those incidental considerations would require further investigations and that is why some of the facts are classified so as not to jeopardize the investigation and pre-empt our strategies,” he said.
The source also ruled out the possibility of negotiating with IPOB to deescalate violence in the South East.
No, we are strictly guided by the exclusive consideration and application of the law. We don’t even have any carrot at hand not to talk of sharing it with Kanu,” he said.
Why I jumped bail - Kanu
Following the court appearance, Kanu sought the permission of the court to explain why he could not attend the trial, which he stated was as a result of the military operation in his residence on September 17, 2017, in which several persons were allegedly killed.
Kanu added that if he had not escaped, he might have been killed like other members of the group.
Abaribe mum on Nnamdi Kanu’s re-arrest
The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has declined comment on the arrest and re-arraignment of Kanu.
Abaribe and two others – Emmanuel Shallom-Ben and Tochukwu Uchendu – had stood as sureties for Kanu before he was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 25, 2017.
In January 2019, Abaribe asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to relieve him of the suretyship for Kanu after the IPOB leader slipped out of Nigeria.
When contacted for comment, Abaribe referred one of our correspondents to his media aide, Uchenna Awom.
Please speak with my media aide Uchenna Awom,” he told our correspondent.
When our reporter reached out to Awom, he also declined comment.
He said, “Kanu has been arrested and re-arraigned. So, no comment.”
How Kanu was re-arrested - AGF Malami
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has explained how the fugitive Kanu was re-arrested and returned to Nigeria to face trial.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Malami said the development “has been through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services.
According to him, “Recent steps taken by the federal government saw to the interception of the fugitive Kanu on Sunday the 27thday of June 2021.
Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Ngozichukwu Okwu-Kanu, born 25th day of September, 1967 at Afaraukwu, Abia State is a holder of Nigerian Passport No. A05136827 first issued on 17th October 2013 at FESTAC, Lagos.
It is recalled that Kanu was arrested on 14th October 2015 on 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.
A judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja revoked Kanu’s bail that was granted him on health ground and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the same date, over his failure to appear in court for hearing.
He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions.
Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para-military, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities,” he said.
Sources say Kanu might have been nabbed following a tip-off from a European country to the INTERPOL.
He was said to have visited Singapore and went to the Czech Republic on Friday en route to the UK. But he was arrested on Saturday in Prague, The Czech Republic and flown back to Nigeria on Sunday.
He was said to have failed to make his usual Facebook broadcasts for one week before his arrest became public knowledge.
Another source said he was intercepted in Brazil.
Not even the Biafra Radio announced that its chairman was missing while some of his followers described as false, the news of his arrest.
A top security source confided that Kanu had a few days ago insinuated that Nigeria was trying to use Interpol to get at him.
It was gathered that Kanu could not be arrested in the United Kingdom because of the stringent extradition laws in the country.
An intelligence official who spoke to one of our reporters last night insisted that Nigeria latched on the various pacts it signed with many countries.
He was not arrested using covert operation as applied during the botched attempt to bring back late Umaru Dikko in the 80s when Muhammadu Buhari was military head of state,” the source said.
It is also not true that a woman was used to track him before he was brought back home through the back channels. Nigeria is a democracy. No woman was used because it will amount to an illegal act against a sovereign country.
Through our legal system, the government filed a formal complaint to the Interpol. Kanu was accused of terrorism, acts of violence, incitement of people to carry arms against the Nigerian state. We also said he jumped bail and proved all these claims beyond reasonable doubt.
This is how we succeeded in bringing him back home to face justice. There is a difference between legitimate opposition and subversion/arm struggle.
A judicial process was set and that is why he was taken to court today (yesterday) and the judge directed that he should be remanded in DSS custody. We don’t want a situation whereby any other lawyer can jump and say they want to defend him. We want him to assemble his legal team,” he said.
Kanu to remain in DSS custody till July 26
Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday ordered Kanu’s remand and adjourned the matter to July 26 and 27 for hearing after he was presented to court.
The lead prosecuting counsel to the federal government, Magaji Labaran, while moving an ex parte application, informed the court that the March 28, 2019 order of the court revoking Kanu’s bail and issuing his bench warrant have been enforced and he has been rearrested as ordered.
He, therefore, requested the court order his detention in the DSS custody in the interest of national security.
Labaran further requested the judge to abridge the earlier adjourned date of October 20, 2021, for the trial to an earlier possible date. While granting both applications, the judge, however, directed the federal government to inform his lawyers ahead of the next adjourned date.
Kanu was facing 11-count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, but jumped bail and absconded from the country in September 2017 following a military operation in his community.
While granting the bail on April 25, 2017, on health grounds, Justice Nyako ordered Kanu to produce three sureties in the sum of N100 million bond each.
The judge said the sureties must include a renowned Jewish leader in Nigeria, a political leader of Igbo extraction such as a senator and a highly respected citizen with landed property in Abuja having a verifiable Certificate of Occupancy.
The judge also ordered Kanu to deposit his Nigerian and British International Passports to the registrar of the court.
The judge further made ancillary orders directing the defendant not to grant press interviews or attend rallies of more than 10 persons. Although, Kanu complied with the first two terms of the bail by depositing the bail bond and producing the sureties, the federal government accused him of flouting the other terms of the bail.
FG to file fresh charges against Kanu
A source at the Federal Ministry of Justice told the Daily Trust last night that they were putting in place fresh charges against Kanu.
He also said many things that led to the re-arrest of Kanu would not be made public.
We have an agreement that the country where he was arrested should remain anonymous,” the source said.
However, there was collaboration from local and international partners,” he said.
On how the case would go on, the source said, “Honestly, we are giving considerations to fresh charges because as you rightly know, ever since he jumped bail, there are certain incitements that followed that triggered violence, loss of lives and properties among others.
So, it is only natural that we should look in that direction to see whether we can press for fresh charges; whether we can make amendments to the existing ones or incidental considerations.
And then those incidental considerations would require further investigations and that is why some of the facts are classified so as not to jeopardize the investigation and pre-empt our strategies,” he said.
The source also ruled out the possibility of negotiating with IPOB to deescalate violence in the South East.
No, we are strictly guided by the exclusive consideration and application of the law. We don’t even have any carrot at hand not to talk of sharing it with Kanu,” he said.
Why I jumped bail - Kanu
Following the court appearance, Kanu sought the permission of the court to explain why he could not attend the trial, which he stated was as a result of the military operation in his residence on September 17, 2017, in which several persons were allegedly killed.
Kanu added that if he had not escaped, he might have been killed like other members of the group.
Abaribe mum on Nnamdi Kanu’s re-arrest
The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe has declined comment on the arrest and re-arraignment of Kanu.
Abaribe and two others – Emmanuel Shallom-Ben and Tochukwu Uchendu – had stood as sureties for Kanu before he was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 25, 2017.
In January 2019, Abaribe asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to relieve him of the suretyship for Kanu after the IPOB leader slipped out of Nigeria.
When contacted for comment, Abaribe referred one of our correspondents to his media aide, Uchenna Awom.
Please speak with my media aide Uchenna Awom,” he told our correspondent.
When our reporter reached out to Awom, he also declined comment.
He said, “Kanu has been arrested and re-arraigned. So, no comment.”
How Kanu was re-arrested - AGF Malami
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has explained how the fugitive Kanu was re-arrested and returned to Nigeria to face trial.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Malami said the development “has been through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security services.
According to him, “Recent steps taken by the federal government saw to the interception of the fugitive Kanu on Sunday the 27thday of June 2021.
Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Ngozichukwu Okwu-Kanu, born 25th day of September, 1967 at Afaraukwu, Abia State is a holder of Nigerian Passport No. A05136827 first issued on 17th October 2013 at FESTAC, Lagos.
It is recalled that Kanu was arrested on 14th October 2015 on 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.
A judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja revoked Kanu’s bail that was granted him on health ground and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the same date, over his failure to appear in court for hearing.
He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions.
Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para-military, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities,” he said.
Sources say Kanu might have been nabbed following a tip-off from a European country to the INTERPOL.
He was said to have visited Singapore and went to the Czech Republic on Friday en route to the UK. But he was arrested on Saturday in Prague, The Czech Republic and flown back to Nigeria on Sunday.
He was said to have failed to make his usual Facebook broadcasts for one week before his arrest became public knowledge.
Another source said he was intercepted in Brazil.
Labels: News
posted by READER GLOBE @ June 30, 2021
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