An Igbo professional group, Coalition of South East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora (CSEPNND), has written an open letter to the Federal Government of Nigeria, urging it to immediately write the Government of the United Kingdom and Israel, requesting for extradition of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to face the law over his involvement in alleged treasonable felony.
The group, whose request was contained in the open letter dated January 8th, 2021, and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, and made available to Blueprint on Saturday, explained that its action was predicated on Kanu’s ceaseless treasonable activities in the country.
Noting that Kanu possessed citizenship of Israel and United Kingdom, the coalition, according to the letter signed by its National President, Prof. Madumere Chika and National Secretary, Mazi Anayo Uchemba, alleged that the IPOB leader is hiding under the cordial relationship between the two nations and Nigeria to plan and launch attacks on Nigeria with a view to destroying it.
CSEPNND appealed to all foreign nations to direct their embassies to cooperate and assist Nigeria in tracking down Kanu and subsequently hand him over to the Nigerian authorities with a view to facing the law of the country.
The statement reads: “We are constrained to write this open letter to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to immediately write the Government of the United Kingdom, requesting the extradition of our fugitive son and founder of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria to continue his trial over alleged treasonable felony.
“Since Kanu escaped justice to the United Kingdom, where he has another citizenship, we have watched him on some video clips he posted on the internet where he did not only boast that he would not submit himself before the trial that was abruptly suspended due to his sudden disappearance from the country, but also threatened that he would destroy our dear country.
“He has no doubt followed the threat with a number of attacks on the country apart from the formation of a militia group, with information at our disposal suggesting he has armed to the teeth to fight the Nigerian government.
“We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria being ably led by President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, whose ministry deals with all extradition issues, to immediately forward extradition request on Kanu to the UK for action.”
While noting that Kanu is a threat to the country and must be immediately brought to book, the Igbo professionals expressed displeasure with the UK government for continuously harbouring him.
The group added: “We call on both the UK and Israel not to be seen to be facilitating the inglorious activities of a fugitive in Nigeria. They can proven their opposition to the activities of Kanu by flushing him out now.
“We reiterate that we have reached a point where we expect the UK not to severe the ties that exist between it and Nigeria. We advise it to revisit its ill-advised choice of keeping a terrorist against the Nigerian state.
“Having worked and contributed effortlessly to see Nigeria at its present state, we believe that the United Kingdom and Israel would not want to see Nigeria a shattered state. It is in this regard that we are strongly appealing to them to assist in the extradition of Kanu, whose activities have been against the unity of Nigeria.
“As Igbo sons and daughters, we wish to inform Nigerians that Kanu is alone in his cessation project and has no reasonable person behind him.
“Though our people are highly marginalized and deserve the right for agitation, that must be done legally and by the appropriate people not a deviant young man like Nnamdi Kanu who is out for his selfish interest.”
It informed the foreign nations that Kanu was barred by a Federal High Court in Abuja from participating in, or addressing public rallies or protests, as part of the conditions for his bail, a development it regretted,had been ignored.
It added: “Kanu has disobeyed this valid court order, which has not been set aside, either by the trial court, or by the Court of Appeal. Kanu has always lamented the treatment of people from the South East zone by the Nigerian government and by other Nigerians. This formed the reason for his agitation for a country of his own.
“However, while Kanu has a right to legally clamour for whatever he believes in, he should also know that the Igbo Nation has recognized spokespersons in the forms of the governors, legislators and Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group. Any serious statements are supposed to come from these people after extensive consultations.”
