President Muhammadu Buhari has ruled out any immediate chances of releasing the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson, the Nigerian leader said there’s no assurance that Kanu won’t jump bail if he is granted bail again.
Recalling that the IPOB leader once jumped bail and fled the country, President Buhari said Kanu should defend all that he said while outside the country.
Buhari and Johnson met on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, Naija News reports.
The Nigerian leader however declared that there’s no truth in some claims that Nnamdi Kanu is being denied access to his lawyers.
Buhari according to a statement by his media aide, Femi Adesina submitted that Kanu has “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain.”
He added that “He (Kanu) felt very safe in Britain, and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court. Let him defend all that he has said there. His lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again, if he’s admitted to bail?”
On Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari condemned those killing innocent people in the name of religion, adding that it was wrong to kill “and say Allah Akbar (God is Great). God is justice. You can’t take innocent souls, and ascribe it to God. And the education process is working, the people now understand Boko Haram as anti-God, and not about religion.”
On his part, PM Johnson said he was delighted about the good news on trade between the two countries, adding that the UK was further reducing tariffs on some goods going to Nigeria.
He added that the relationship and partnership between Nigeria and Britain is strong.
It is a “very strong attachment,” he said, adding: “I just want to be sure that we are doing enough. It’s a massive partnership for us, and we need to capitalize on it.”
