UK seeks clarification about Kanu’s status, whereabouts from FG

The United Kingdom has asked the Federal Government to clarify the
status and whereabouts of the leader of the Indigenous People of
Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The British government said it had asked the government if the British
national was alive or dead. However, it could not be immediately
ascertained if the Federal Government had responded to the inquiries
or not.
The Press Officer, UK high commission in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, stated
that the inquiry followed reports that Kanu had been missing since
September 14, 2017 when armed soldiers stormed his residence in Abia
State.
Abuku said this in response to questions fromSaturday PUNCHseeking to
know UK's concern on the missing IPOB leader.
"We are seeking urgent clarification from the Nigerian authorities
about the status and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-Nigerian man,
who has been reported missing since September 14," Abuku stated in an
email on Thursday.
Asked if the UK would strip Kanu of citizenship on account of the
declaration by Nigeria that he was leading a terrorist organisation,
the mission said it does not comment on individual cases.
"One of the conditions that can make the United Kingdom strip its
citizen of nationality is if the person engages in a terrorist
activity at home or abroad. And Kanu has dual citizenship and
therefore a citizen of Nigeria and the UK," the mission stated.
When asked if the UK supported the Nigerian government's proscription
of the IPOB, Abuku stated that the group was not a proscribed
organisation under the British law.
"The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a proscribed organisation in
the UK," the mission spokesperson stressed.
However, when asked if the group was free to raise funds or hold
rallies in Britain, Abuku said he would need to get an official
response on that, but subsequently declined to respond to the
question.
He also declined comment on whether the IPOB might be designated as a
terrorist group or proscribed by the British authorities.
Abuku said, "We do not routinely comment on whether an organisation is
or is not under consideration for proscription. A decision to
proscribe an organisation must be based on a belief that it is
concerned in terrorism as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000, and it
must be proportionate."