By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who was recently re-arrested by the Nigerian Government, has sent a strongly worded petition to the British High Commission in Nigeria, seeking for consular assistance and an unconditional release as a British citizen.
Recall that the leader of the separatist group was re-arrested last Sunday and re-arraigned before an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako.on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
Kanu, in the petition to the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, through his legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, called on the British authorities to declare that he is not a criminal.
He also noted that he only possessed a political opinion which the Nigerian authorities are seeking to “suppress.”
The petition read in part: “We are solicitors to the British citizen, Mr. Okwu-Kanu (aka Nnamdi Kanu) the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on whose behalf and Instruction we write this letter to request urgent Consular assistance to be provided to him.
“He was intercepted in Kenya by Nigeria’s foreign security agents, brought to Nigeria against his will and is currently being detained in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody in Abuja.
“Mr. Kanu is a British citizen who was traveling on a valid British passport when he was seized in a third country and forcibly brought to Nigeria.
“Based on the foregoing, we hereby seek that Mr. Kanu be granted every possible Consular assistance to which he is entitled as a British citizen.
“That Mr. Kanu be categorised as a high profile political prisoner and be rendered the highest diplomatic protection under international laws.
“That the Nigerian authorities be directed to immediately allow access to Mr. Kanu by his lawyers, doctors and family members.
“That the British authorities file a Diplomatic Note or other legal processes with Nigeria’s Federal High Court and the Office of the Attorney General indicating her sovereign interest in Mr. Kanu’s matter,” the statement read.