*says he may jump bail again
By Chesa Chesa, Kigali
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, that detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, would get fair hearing even if he is denied bail on account of having flouted an earlier one.
He gave the assurance on Thursday during bilateral discussions with Johnson on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) holding in Kigali, Rwanda.
Responding to concerns raised by the UK leader that Kanu was not being allowed to see his lawyers privately, Buhari dispelled such insinuation, saying the detained separatist leader was being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain.”
President Buhari continued: “He felt very safe in Britain, and said awful things against Nigeria. We eventually got him when he stepped out of the United Kingdom, and we sent him to court.
“Let him defend all that he has said there. His lawyers have access to him. Remember he jumped bail before, how are we sure he won’t do it again, if he’s admitted to bail?”
On the keenness expressed by Johnson to help Nigeria in the area of security, the President said helping to stabilize Libya could be an initial good step, as the fall of Muammar Ghadaffi after 42 years in power unleashed his armed guards on countries in the Sahel, “and they are causing havoc everywhere, as the only thing they know how to do is to shoot guns.”
Also on Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari said there was serious effort to educate the people on the fact that only an unserious person could kill innocent people, “and say Allah Akbar (God is Great).
“God is justice. You can’t take innocent souls, and ascribe it to God. And the education process is working, the people now understand Boko Haram as anti-God, and not about religion.”
The Prime Minister offered condolences to Buhari and Nigeria over some recent attacks in Nigeria, particularly on churches.
On economic matters, Johnson said he was delighted about the good news on trade between the two countries, adding that the UK was further reducing tariffs on some goods going to Nigeria.
He described the relationship between the countries as “very strong attachment,” adding: “I just want to be sure that we are doing enough. It’s a massive partnership for us, and we need to capitalize on it.”
Buhari also gave his word to respect the maximum term limit in the Nigerian Constitution, after the Prime Minister, apparently not quite familiar with the maximum two terms limit, had asked if the President would run for office again.
Buhari responded flatly: “Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well”.
