I Fled Nigeria To Save My Life, Nnamdi Kanu Tells Court

Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Tuesday, gave reasons why he abandoned his trial and escaped out of the country in 2017.

Kanu, who was re-arrested and brought back to Nigeria last Sunday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he fled the country to save his life.

He sought permission of the court to speak, shortly after he was docked before trial Justice Binta Nyako by the Federal Government.

Though he did not have any legal representation, Kanu, who was dressed in a black tracksuit, looked healthy and unruffled.

The IPOB leader explained that he did not deliberately abscond from the court to avoid trial.

He said his disappearance was due to the unlawful invasion of his house by security agents, in an operation he said resulted in the death of many innocent people.

The IPOB leader said he went underground to avoid being killed.

He said: “My lord, my house was invaded and people were killed. I would have been killed too if I had not hid myself. That was why I have been unable to attend court.

“I would have been killed the way others were killed when my house was invaded,” Kanu added.

At this juncture, trial Justice Nyako asked him to get in touch with his lawyer to brief him about all that have transpired in the case in his absence.

Though the case was initially fixed for October 20, owing to FG’s application for accelerated hearing, the court brought the matter forward to July 26 for continuation of trial.

The court further directed the Prosecution to notify Kanu’s lawyer, even as it remanded him in custody of the DSS.

Meanwhile, immediately the proceedings ended, security agents discreetly moved Kanu out of the courtroom through a back door, into their waiting vehicle that was stationed behind the court premises.

His appearance before the court came barely 15 minutes after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed to newsmen that Kanu was “intercepted” by security agents last Sunday.

Malami, who addressed the press in company of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba and spokesman of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunnaya, explained that Kanu’s re-arrest followed a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and the Interpol.

He was however silent on the exact location or country where the IPOB leader was arrested.

The AGF maintained that Kanu would be tried on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and management of an unlawful society.

-Vanguard