On Saturday, Aloy Ejimakor, the chief legal representative of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), responded to the United States report regarding the Biafra activist.
Ejimakor called upon the Nigerian government to acknowledge its mistakes in Kanu’s trial and swiftly conclude the prosecution “without delay.”
The “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria” by the United States highlighted that the Nigerian security forces infringed upon Kanu’s rights during his arrest and extradition.
The report also highlighted that Kanu was arbitrarily detained by Nigerian security agents in June 2021.
In response to the report, Ejimakor praised the United States for officially and openly acknowledging the illegality of Kanu’s extradition.
In a statement issued and signed by Ejimakor, he expressed gratitude on behalf of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team to the United States government, specifically recognizing the US Mission in Nigeria, for their diplomatic boldness in recognizing the violation of Kanu’s rights during his arrest and extradition.
“It is imperative to underscore the significance of the United States government’s recent stance, which it has taken almost three years to articulate and publish. This stance holds importance for two key reasons.
“Firstly, it reaffirms the core argument we have been presenting since June 2021: that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was unlawfully subjected to rendition, not lawfully extradited. These are distinct legal concepts with contrasting implications.
“Secondly, given that this acknowledgment comes from a respected and influential foreign power like the United States, it is anticipated that it will prompt the Nigerian government to also acknowledge its severe infringement of Kanu’s inherent human rights through the unjustifiable extraordinary rendition.
“Indeed, one way for the Nigerian government to rectify this grave injustice done to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is to eschew any further inclination towards impunity and utilize its authority and discretion under the Constitution to swiftly conclude the prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu, without further delay.”
“In our perspective, this course of action stands as the most prudent approach, considering that Kanu’s prosecution has become protracted and increasingly dubious over time. Initiated nearly a decade ago in 2015, it revolves around alleged offenses that are no longer relevant.
“Furthermore, there are compelling factors, such as the evident and widely acknowledged reality that Nnamdi Kanu might never receive a fair trial due to the serious complications arising from the location of his current detention.”
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