U.S. Condemns Nigerian Government's Prolonged Detention of Nnamdi Kanu and Godwin Emefiele

The United States Government has issued a stern rebuke against the Nigerian authorities for the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

 In its recently released ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,’ the U.S. Department of State outlined various concerns regarding human rights violations in Nigeria, particularly focusing on arbitrary arrests, lengthy pre-trial detentions, and the obstruction of judicial processes.

The report shed light on the case of Godwin Emefiele, who was apprehended by the Department of State Services (DSS) for unspecified "investigative reasons" on June 10. Despite being granted bail by a Federal High Court in Lagos on July 25, Emefiele found himself at odds with the DSS once again, leading to a confrontation between security personnel.

Similarly, the report highlighted the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu by the DSS on grounds of national security. Kanu, who faces charges of treason, terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms, has been in custody since his extradition to Nigeria in 2021. 

Despite a court ruling in 2022 dropping all charges against Kanu and ordering his release, the federal government lodged an appeal, leading to his continued detention.

Furthermore, the report underscored systemic issues within Nigeria's judicial system, including a shortage of trial judges, trial backlogs, corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency, and political interference. These challenges have contributed to delays in legal proceedings and have hampered the administration of justice in the country.

The U.S. condemnation comes as a significant diplomatic blow to the Nigerian government, urging authorities to address human rights violations and uphold the principles of due process and fair trial.

Join us at Ansa mediahub International whazup platform for more News Updates across the globe.

Visit our website at www.ansamediahub.com, for more News Updates, Comment, Follow, Subscribe and share.