By Yusuf Alli, Abuja; Sanni Onogu, Abuja; Osagie Otabor, Akure; Emma Elekwa, Onitsha; Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakalili and Nwanosike Onu, Awka

• Kanu’s call logs, social media accounts being screened

• UK may initiate talks with govt

• Igbo leaders, others call for fair hearing

• He may be charged with inciting killings

A “comprehensive investigation” of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu is ongoing, highly-placed sources hinted Wednesday.

It involves rigorous screening of his call logs and social media handles by security agents.

The objective is to uncover the financiers of IPOB, the source said.

Kanu was “intercepted” in a concerted operation by security operatives collaborating with International Police (INTERPOL).

The IPOB leader was whisked to Abuja on Sunday. He was taken back to court on Tuesday and the court ordered his remand in Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

On Wednesday, Igbo leaders, IPOB and other ethnic nationality groups like Afenifere, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, among others, urged the government to ensure a fair hearing for Kanu.

According to the source, the screening of the call logs and social media handles is a major task being carried out by a crack team of detectives.

The source explained: “After Kanu’s arrest, his phones were collected and demobilised. He has no access to any form of communication since then.

“Detectives are fishing for his backers at home and abroad, the foot-soldiers and his strategists.

“Personal and discreet accounts linked with Kanu will be blocked pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

“Of interest to detectives is the operation of IPOB especially sources of arms to the proscribed organisation and the modus operandi of Radio Biafra.

“Beyond all these steps, the Federal Government is interested in unravelling how the secessionist agitation was conceived. At the end, vital facts will be released to the public and the diplomatic community.”

There are indications that Kanu may face a separate charge for allegedly inciting arson and premeditated murder in the Southeast.

Another source added:” Definitely, Kanu and his arrested commanders will be charged with murder. They have to account for the mass killings in the Southeast.

Read Also; How Kanu’s arrest will affect peace, security in Southeast

“There are multiple cases against Kanu, his men and IPOB officials.”

It was learnt that Kanu was yet to have access to either his relatives or his lawyers.

“We will respect his rights and reliefs granted him by Justice Binta Nyako,” a government source added.

But a searchlight has been turned on Kanu’s brother in Germany, who was implicated in the alleged coordination of attacks on a former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and some Nigerians abroad.

A source said: “Although some suspects have been arrested, the alleged roles of his brother in the coordination of the attacks are also under probe.

“The brother was not directly involved but he has been implicated for allegedly overseeing the selected attacks.”

‘My brother was arrested in Kenya’

Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, said the IPOB leader was arrested in Kenya.

There have been many versions of where Kanu was “intercepted”.

But Emmanuel, in a statement on Wednesday, said: “My brother Nnamdi Kanu demands the right to self-determination for Biafra. Self-determination is the right that underpins the United Nations.

“Because Biafrans support Nnamdi Kanu’s call for Biafran self-determination, my brother has now been subjected to the most serious violations of international law.

“Whilst visiting Kenya, Nnamdi Kanu was detained and handed over to the Nigerian authorities who then flew him to Nigeria.

“My brother has been subjected to extraordinary rendition by Kenya and Nigeria. They have violated the most basic principles of the rule of law.

“Extraordinary rendition is one of the most serious crimes states can commit. Both Nigeria and Kenya must be held to account. I demand justice for my brother, Nnamdi Kanu.

“Nnamdi Kanu holds both British and Nigerian citizenship. Nnamdi Kanu is Biafran, not Nigerian. He has rejected his Nigerian citizenship.

“The British High Commission in Nigeria must insist upon my brother’s immediate release.

“They must guarantee his safety and security. Nnamdi Kanu must be returned home to the UK to his wife and his sons who live here.

“The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, must make clear to the Nigerian authorities that they will not tolerate the unlawful detention of British citizens and the UK Government condemns the Nigerians and Kenyans for undermining the rule of law. Foreign Secretary Raab must be clear.

“There will be consequences for those who resort to extraordinary rendition. The British Government must insist upon justice for Nnamdi Kanu.”

Nzuko Umunna seeks Kanu’s safety 

Nzuko Umunna also referred to the statutes cited by Abaribe, saying they require the Federal Government “to ensure that Kanu does not suffer any bodily harm while in the custody of the state and its agencies”.

The think-tank, in a statement by its Executive Secretary Joe Odumuko and Deputy Executive Secretary Dr Uju Agomoh, urged the Federal Government and the judiciary to secure the IPOB leader’s right to a fair trial as guaranteed by the Constitution and under international law.

The statement reads in part: “We ask the government to ensure that Mazi Kanu’s fundamental rights are secured to the fullest extent possible.

“It bears repeating that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to secure the bodily integrity and personal dignity of Mazi Kanu while in its custody.

“We shall hold the Nigerian government and all state actors to account on this obligation under domestic and international laws to the fullest extent possible.

“Given that Kanu has been profiled as an enemy of the state, the need to ensure a fair and transparent trial becomes more urgent.

“Any effort to intimidate the judiciary must be discouraged by all stakeholders,” the think tank said.

The pan-Igbo think-tank also urged the government to rethink its security and peace-building strategies and adopt a more conciliatory approach towards resolving national challenges.

It added: “We note that most respected national leaders have called for a national dialogue to stave off the prospects of Nigeria becoming a failed state, and urge the Federal Government to key into this initiative.

“Instructively, a seeming predilection to the jackboot strategy has only yielded more sweat, blood and tears for our bleeding nation.

“The killing of Mohammed Yusuf and its aftermath are still fresh in our minds, even as the followers of the detained cleric, Ibrahim el Zakzaky continue to press his case.

”We urge the Federal Government to view the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu debacle as fundamentally a political case that must be resolved with uncommon wisdom.

“We cannot continue on the path of anarchy and ceaseless bloodletting that has seized our nation by the jugular for years.

“The Federal Government must show a commitment to listen to its restive youth now scattered across all regions of the country. A stitch in time saves nine. We commit to assist the Federal Government in this process.”

Afenifere, Yoruba Ronu: address underlying issues

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, noted that the arrest of Kanu showed the Nigerian security services and forces could be efficient and effective when encouraged.

Its Secretary General, Sola Ebiseni, in a statement, said Kanu is entitled to the protection of his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the constitution and other global laws

The organisation believes the enormous energy, resources and logistics deployed by the government to arrest Kanu would not have been required to pick members of the ethnic militias, masquerading as herdsmen.

Afenifere said: “Rather than the presidential admonition that victims of mass murder and destruction of economic lives should seek peaceful coexistence in their own ancestral communities with their invading assailant herdsmen, the Federal Government should not only act but be seen to deploy requisite security measures against herdsmen, kidnappers who have held the Southern and Middle Belt regions hostage for so long and, in recent times, emboldened by government duplicity to have also invaded local farmers and indigenous tribes of the Northwest.

“The way forward is the restructuring of the political architecture that states have their own Police who understand the terrain and language for necessary intelligence.

“If the Southeastern governments had state police, maybe there would have been no need for the likes of Kanu and their ethnic outfits being unfortunately popular amongst the people.”

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, in a statement by Akin Malaolu, said Kanu’s arrest is an opportunity for the state to demonstrate its commitment to the primacy of the rule of law.

“What is important is that his rights to a free hearing must be guaranteed. The charges against Kanu are known and were before his re-arrest canvassed and argued in court.

“At this stage, however, the Buhari administration owes it a duty to recognise the disaffection in the land and the need to heal the wounds in our diversity.

“The government must go a step further by engaging agitators who have one grouse or the other against the Nigerian state,” the group said.