The Geneva, Switzerland-based International Human Rights Commission has declared that there was no case of human rights violation recorded in the re-arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,, Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya by that country’s Special Police Forces.
The human rights agency admitted receiving no fewer than 25 petitions from individuals and groups worldwide in respect of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who was recently re-arrested and repatriated to Nigeria to face trial over alleged treasonable felony.
The Nigerian government has since re-arraigned Kanu in continuation of his trial from which he jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country.
IHRC said in a statement dated July 7, 2021 that majority of the petitions, which came from Nigeria, urged it to conduct an independent inquiry into human rights violations and possible breaches to established international and regional diplomatic protocols.
Signed by the IHRC’s Special Envoy for Africa Region, Evans M. Mutavi, and International President for Kenya, said that it accordingly, conducted an independent investigation into the matter and found out that there was no violation of Nnamdi Kanu’s human rights in the events leading to his re-arrest and repatriation to Nigeria.
“The IHRC is committed to safeguarding the rights of citizens across the globe in line with the organization’s core mandate,” the agency said. “The commission upon investigation is unable to establish a case of human rights violation of Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya by the special Police Forces.
“The Commission is convinced that the Kenyan Government played no official role in the event that led to Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.
“The Commission expects the Nigerian Government to follow up the trial of Nnamdi Kanu in line with the country’s laws and respect to human rights. “The commission has resolved to monitor the trial of Nnamdi Kanu to ensure his human rights are not violated by the Nigerian Government,” the IHRC stated.
The IHRC report follows a series of protests by Kanu’s supporters, including IPOB, who claim he was abducted by the Nigerian government with the active support of the Kenyan authorities.
It also comes as the Ohanaeze Indigbo has demanded a trial for the IPOB leader. It had announced it would raise a team of lawyers to monitor the trial which is going on in Abuja.
Responding to Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s demands, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the group was free to do so.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government is not averse to Ohanaeze’s plans.
Malami spoke through a statement issued on Monday by media his media aide Dr. Umar Gwandu, commended Ohanaeze’s disposition to the Kanu’s case and his agitation for secession.
On Sunday, the pan-Igbo socio-political organisation demanded fair trial of the IPOB leader.
Below is the statement:
“Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has welcomed the formation of legal team by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to monitor the proceedings at the trial of the self-acclaimed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu which is in line with the doctrine of the right of fair hearing rooted in Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“Inherent in the position of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the matter was the demonstration of their recognition of belonging to Nigeria and succumbing to the rule of law while maintaining their stance that they were not averse to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu.
“In similar vein the group showed a mature departure from the mindset of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra when Ohanaeze said they ‘do not support the use of any form of violence’ while channelling concerns and presenting demands.
“By urging the youths to be law-abiding and sheath their sword as well as asking them to try to obtain voter’s card to enable them contribute to national development, the position of Ohanaeze becomes glaringly constitutional and commendable.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government respects the rule of law and does not advocate for the breach of law.
“Hence, with or without the so-called monitoring group, justice will be adequately served to Nnamdi Kanu in compliances with the enshrined provisions of the law.
“It is hoped that the unnecessary legal monitoring group will come with open-mind and guided by nothing but the rule of law in the process so as to convey the judgment of the court as may eventually be delivered to their people in various languages and dialects of the members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo communities and the entire Nigerians.”