The Supreme Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has written to the British High Commission in Nigeria, seeking for a consular assistance and an unconditional release from Department of State Services (DSS) detention in Abuja.
Kanu in a statement sent to the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing by his legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, said the British authorities must declare that he is not a criminal.
According to the IPOB leader, he only possessed a political opinion which the Nigerian authorities are seeking to “suppress.”
Kanu’s legal counsel asked the British government categorized the IPOB leader as a high profile political prisoner and be rendered the highest diplomatic protection under international laws.
T he statement read in part; “We are solicitors to the British citizen, Mr. Okwu-Kanu (aka Nnamdi Kanu) the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on whose behalf and Instruction we write this letter to request urgent Consular assistance to be provided to him.
“He was intercepted in Kenya by Nigeria’s foreign security agents, brought to Nigeria against his will and is currently being detained in the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) custody in Abuja.
“Mr Kanu is a British citizen who was traveling on a valid British passport when he was seized in a third country and forcibly brought to Nigeria.
“Based on the foregoing, we hereby seek that Mr Kanu be granted every possible Consular assistance to which he is entitled as a British citizen.
“That Mr Kanu be categorized as a high profile political prisoner and be rendered the highest diplomatic protection under international laws.
“That the Nigerian authorities be directed to immediately allow access to Mr Kanu by his Lawyers, Doctors and Family members.
“That the British authorities file a Diplomatic Note or other legal processes with Nigeria’s Federal High Court and the Office of the Attorney General indicating her sovereign interest in Mr Kanu’s matter.”