- Sixteen members of the European
parliament have asked the European Union High Commission to challenge
President Muhammadu Buhari on the detention of Nnamdi Kanu
-
The MEPs called for independent investigation into the alleged killing,
torture and illegal arrest of members of the Indigenous People of
Biafra by security operatives
16 members of European parliament have asked EU high Comission to challenge President Buhari, DSS over Nnamdi Kanu's detention
Some
members of the European parliament (MEP) have risen in support of the
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
The
MEPs – 16 in number – in a joint letter have asked the European Union
High Commission to take action on human rights abuses against members of
the IPOB.
The letter addressed to the High
Representative and vice president of the EU high commission Federica
Mogherini said the unlawful detention of Kanu and the violence against
IPOB members by Nigerian government must be looked into.
The
letter which was dated Monday, December 19, said Kanu has been
illegally imprisoned since October 14, 2015, despite being acquitted of
all charges brought against him by the Department of State Services.
It
was signed by Julie Ward, Ana Gomes, Bart Staes, Beatriz Becerra,
Brando Benifei, Catherine Stihler, Ernest Urtasun, Eva Joly and Hilde
Vautmans.
Others signatories to letter include: Jude
Kirton-Darling, Kati Piri, Miapetra, Kumpula-Natri, Michèle Rivasi,
Nessa Childers, Pascal Durand and Philippe Lamberts.
The letter read in parts: “The
authorities accused Kanu and his two co-defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu
and David Nwawuisi, of trying to overthrow the Nigerian head of state by
broadcasting secessionist propaganda on the underground media outlet
Radio Biafra, which campaigns for the independence of Biafra from
Nigeria. Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi deny all charges brought against
them.”
“On 19th October in Abuja, the
Chief Magistrate, Honourable Shuaibu, discharged Kanu of all criminal
charges including the allegation of managing and belonging to an
unlawful society, criminal intimidation and of criminal conspiracy.
Shuaibu granted Kanu bail, of which all the conditions were met, but the
Department of State Services refused to release him,” the letter said.
The
MEPs said charges of criminal conspiracy, engaging in unlawful society
and criminal intimidation were then withdrawn on December 16, 2015, but
still Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi have not been released.
“On
17th December 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered the unconditional
release of Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Security
Services, but this was not enacted.
“Kanu’s
counsel has since appealed to the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) to help ensure his safe release, but to no avail. A
court case on 5th October 2016 was later adjourned to 8th November,
which has now been amended to 9th February 2017, due to the Nigeria
Department of State Services failure to bring Kanu to court,” it said.
It also accused the Nigerian government of
sending warnings to the ECOWAS community court sitting in Abuja not to
intervene in Kanu’s continued detention and trial.
“It
is clear that the fundamental human rights of Kanu, Madubugwu and
Nwawuisi are being grossly violated. Human Rights Watch have reported of
the violation of the defendants’ rights, including their right to a
fair trial.
“What is more, the Nigerian
Government is also reportedly violating the human rights of Biafran
activists. Scores of Biafrans are in detention for attempting to hold or
participate in peaceful assemblies,” the letter added.
It
further accused the Nigerian government and security forces of using
excessive force against pro-Biafran activists who have embarked on
peaceful protest in Nigeria.
Referring to
Amnesty International’s reports on cases of arrests, disappearance and
torture of IPOB members by security operatives, the MEPs said, it is
unfortunate that no investigations have been carried out.
“The
right to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the right of
freedom of expression, is protected by the Nigerian constitution.
International human rights standards also require that law enforcement
officials must, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means.
“It
is clear that the Nigerian authorities are not operating with respect
to the Nigerian constitution or the African Charter on Human and
Peoples' Rights.
The letter also said: “On behalf of the
European Union, especially in respect to the EU-Nigeria partnership,
the Nigeria EU Joint Way Forward, the developments of the 6th Nigeria-EU
ministerial dialogue and the fact that Nigeria is a recipient of EU
aid, we call upon you to:
"Advocate for the immediate and safe release of Nnamdi Kanu and co-defendants Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi,"
They
also called on the EU High Commission to challenge the actions of the
President Muhammadu Buhari, and the DSS in regards to the detention of
Kanu, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi.
They called for
an impartial investigation into the arrest, enforced disappearance,
torture and killing of supporters and members of various pro-Biafran
groups and denounce the unacceptable violence against Biafran supporters
by Nigerian security forces.
They also urged
the EU to do more to push the Nigerian government to safeguard human
rights in Nigeria by calling for guarantees on the freedom of expression
of all Nigerian citizens, including their right to protest without
harm, and the termination of violence towards Biafrans.
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