Nnmadi Kanu’s Arrest: Adhere To Rule Of Law, Abaribe Tells FG

Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has urged the Federal Government to follow the rule of law in handling the case of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Naija News reports that Kanu who jumped bail in 2017 was rearrested, extradited to Nigeria on Tuesday and arraigned at an Abuja court on Tuesday.

He is facing treason charges and was remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) following an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, on Wednesday, Abaribe urges the Federal Government to also respect to fundamental human rights of the IPOB leader.

The Senator, who stood surety for Kanu when he was first arraigned a few years ago, also advised the government to be guided by the provisions of Section 31 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

He added that the government should also consider Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights as it detains and re-arraign Kanu in court for the continuation of his trial.

Abaribe, however, called for calm saying that the recent events present an opportunity for dialogue and for the Federal Government to address the contending issues that seems to challenge the peace and unity of the country.

Part of the statement read, “The relevant section and charter presuppose that the detainee should be humanely treated while in the custody of the state.

“What it means is that it is the duty of the government in this instance to protect him and ensure the respect of his fundamental human rights while his trial lasts.

“For now, it is trite law, that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”