Interpol responds to Neusroom inquiry about Nnamdi Kanu’s extradition
The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has responded to Neusroom’s inquiry about the detention of Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government and whether it played any role in his reported extradition.
Kanu established Radio Biafra in 2009 from where he broadcast messages calling for the dissolution of Nigeria and the establishment of an Independent Biafra state. In 2004, he formed the Indegenous people of Biafra (IPOB).
He was arrested by the Nigerian government in October 2015 by operatives of the Department of State Services and charged for treason.
In April 2017, Kanu was granted bail after his lawyers argued that his health was deteriorating. Following a military operation in his house however, Kanu fled the country and resurfaced in Israel. There was also speculation that he was hiding in the UK from where he continued to use social media to promote his secessionist agenda.
On June 27, Kanu was brought back to Nigeria and arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako in continuation of his trial. The minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, announced that Kanu was intercepted through collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence agencies. The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, added that “what we can tell you, once again, is that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations.”
No official confirmation has been provided about where Kanu was arrested. While his brother said he was picked up in Kenya, another report indicated he was arrested in Ethiopia..
Neusroom’s Yusuf Omotayo reached out to Interpol to inquire about the role the agency played in Kanu’s arrest and extradition to Nigeria.
The agency’s general secretariat said the National Central Bureau of each country is responsible for extradition processes.
“Any arrest is made by the national authorities of that country in accordance with national laws.
“Each INTERPOL member country has an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB). The NCB is a national body that is fully staffed and operated by the national authorities, and which acts as the single point of contact with other NCBs, and the General Secretariat.
“In Nigeria, NCB Abuja comes under the authority of the Nigeria Police Force and we would advise you to contact them directly for any information about their potential involvement in this arrest, or the authorities in the country where you believe the arrest was made.”
Neusroom has contacted the Kenya Police Service for information about that country’s role in Kanu’s arrest.
