The United Kingdom has said that it will provide consular assistance to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, who was re-arrested and arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday.
The Head of Communications, British High Commission, Mr Dean Hurlock, stated this on Wednesday.
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He noted, “With regard to any questions about whether the British High Commission is providing assistance in this case, we can confirm that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stands ready to provide consular assistance.
“With regard to any questions about what the UK thinks about the proposed legal process that Nnamdi Kanu is facing in Nigeria, the UK would expect any trial or legal proceedings to follow due process.”
The UK also said that it will seek clarification from the Federal Government on the circumstances and legality of the arrest of Kanu.
Hurlock added that the UK was in the process of seeking explanations from the Federal Government on the circumstances surrounding Kanu’s arrest and extradition.
Recall that Kanu, who is facing trial for treasonable felony, jumped bail in 2017 and fled the country for the UK when soldiers stormed his parents’ residence at Afaraukwu, Abia State.
On Tuesday, he was re-arraigned before Justice Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, two days after he was arrested and extradited to the country.
He is still being remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services by the Federal High Court, pending the continuation of trial on July 26.
The UK, which had on Tuesday said Kanu, who is also a British citizen, was not arrested within its territory, made further clarifications on Wednesday.
Hurlock said, “In response to any queries on whether Nnamdi Kanu was extradited from the UK, we can reaffirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK nor was he extradited from the UK.
“With regards to any questions about the possible legality of his arrest, the British High Commission in Abuja is currently in the process of seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of the arrest.”
The British Government also said its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was ready to provide consular assistance to Kanu who was expected back in court on July 26.
Hurlock further said the UK expected the trial of the Biafran separatist to follow due process.
