The federal government has revealed how it trailed and gathered troves of information on the leader of the proscribed indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying a lived a five-star lifestyle across several countries
However, the federal government assures Nnamdi Kanu of a fair trial in his 11-count treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms charge, which is pending before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the position of the Federal Government known at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday morning.
But Mohammed, like his Justice counterpart, who unveiled Kanu’s arrest and repatriation on Tuesday, declined to say how and where the IPoB leader was arrested and brought to Nigeria.
The minister said: “It will interest Nigerians to know that for over two years, our security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of the proscribed IPOB leader as he lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designing clothes and shoes. Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing attire made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand, when he was arrested.
“The Federal Government wishes to commend the Nigerian security and intelligence agencies, which collaborated to re-arrest the proscribed IPOB leader in one of the most classic operations of its type in the world. We commend the professionalism, diligence, patriotism and painstaking efforts of our security and intelligence agencies. We also thank the sister international agencies that collaborated with us to pull off this arrest.
“We can tell you that the forensic investigation carried out so far has revealed a treasure trove of information on the proscribed IPOB leader and his collaborators. While the investigation continues, we assure you that none of the collaborators, irrespective of their standing in the society, will be spared.
“They will all face the full wrath of the law for their activities that challenge our nation’s sovereignty and threaten its unity. No one, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the country.
“It is interesting that many are suddenly calling for a fair trial for Kanu as if he didn’t get one before he decided to jump bail and flee. However, I can assure you that the fair deal that Kanu denied many of the victims of the violence which he wilfully instigated through his broadcasts and tweets will not be denied him.
“Finally, there have been speculations on how this re-arrest was pulled off and in which country the hitherto fugitive leader of the proscribed IPOB was nabbed. What we can tell you, once again, is that the re-arrest was made possible by the diligent efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, in collaboration with countries with which we have obligations.
“We continue to respect and honour the obligations,” Mohammed said.