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ADELANI ADEPEGBA and ADE ADESOMOJU
The embattled leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, said he was currently following suit, which would have helped him to move to the United Kingdom.
It was learned that the Biafran agitator failed to use the Emergency Travel Document provided by the British authorities until the document expired.
The UK High Commission in Abuja on Saturday in response to questions about Kanu's escape to Jerusalem.
The UK High Commission Senior Communications Officer, Tinu Adelegan SUNDAY PUNCH inquiries on the IPOB leader.
She said, "I'm sure we're saying this for consular confidentiality. All we have done is an ETD to a British person who asked for one in Israel, which he has not used and has expired.
It could not be ascertained why Kanu, a British citizen, needed an ETD to travel to the UK.
According to the official UK government website, www.gov.ukA citizen could apply for an emergency travel document (sometimes called an emergency pbadport).
The website further explained that it may also have been used in the United Kingdom, where it has been acquired, or has been stolen, but it is also with the United States.
A citizen could also obtain an ETD if he does not have time to renew or replace his pbadport before he travels.
Kanu had disappeared from the country in controversial circumstances in 2017, following the invasion of his home by troops.
There had been some speculations about his whereabouts and safety for a year before he resurfaced at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem last Saturday.
FG rules out request for Kanu's extradition from UK
The Federal Government may have ruled out the possibility of requesting the extradition of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, from the United Kingdom Government to Nigeria to face his treasonable felony trial, SUNDAY PUNCH has learned.
Kanu, who holds a dual citizenship of Nigeria and the UK, was sighted in a video clip said to be during a prayer session at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
The video recently surfaced on the Internet, more than one year after he had gone south-East for 'Operation Python Dance II' last year, allegedly invaded his house in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State, on September 14, 2017.
The IPOB has been surfaced on the Internet, and has been abruptly suspended due to its sudden disappearance since last year.
Also, the UK government reportedly informed the Nigerian Government last week of its intention to issue to Kanu.
But several sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice, the ministry of the Nigerian government which deals with all extradition issues, said there would be no need to ask the UK to send the IPOB leader to Nigeria to face his trial.
One of the sources said, "It is absolutely unnecessary. Remember that there is an ongoing procedure before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he is being prosecuted to compel his three sureties to produce him in court.
"By law, the sureties are the custodian of the defendant and one of their core duties is to ensure that the defendant attends his trial.
"So it is left to the courts to find their way to court, not to mind the defendant's threat to submit to the authorities of the court.
"If they fail to bring their face to the fore, they must be ready to face the penalties, including the forfeiture of their individual N100m lease bonds."
One of the sources, who is familiar with the extradition process, also doubted the possibility of any such extradition process because the UK government had not been on the same page with Nigeria on the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist group.
The source stated, "The UK government has said it does not see IPOB as a terrorist organization contrary to the Nigerian government's position.
"So you can see the disparity in the stances of the two countries' positions on the issue."
Mr. Salihu Isah, the spokesman for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami, could not be reached for the AGF's position on the possibility or otherwise of the Federal Government requesting Kanu's extradition from the UK.
Hearing in the trial of Kanu before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe and others, who stood on the IPOB leader in the last month of the year. if they are unable to produce him.
Also, to form Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, whom Kanu's lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had asked the court to summon for insisting that Kanu had escaped to London, is also expected in court at the next hearing date.
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