The Kenya government has denied the claim that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested and extradited from the country to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s attorney general and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, had on Tuesday said the IPOB leader was “intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and Security Services”.
He did not, however, state where Kanu was arrested.
However, on Wednesday, Kingsley Kanu, brother of the separatist leader, alleged that his brother was arrested in Kenya.
“Whilst visiting Kenya, Nnamdi Kanu was detained and handed over to the Nigerian authorities who then flew him to Nigeria,” he said.
“My brother has been subject to extraordinary rendition by Kenya and Nigeria. They have violated the most basic principles of the rule of law. Extraordinary rendition is one of the most serious crimes states can commit.”
However, Alexander Muteshi, Kenya director-general of Immigration Services, dismissed the claim on Thursday.
According to Nation, a Kenya news outlet, Muteshi said he cannot tell if Kanu was arrested in Kenya.
Muteshi said he can only confirm an arrest and extradition if the person entered the country legally.
“I can’t know that,” Nation quoted Muteshi to have said.
“I am not in the picture of his presence in the country. I am only able to tell if somebody entered the country legally,” he added.
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