Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister on Thursday engaged President Buhari on several issues amongst which includes the situation with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Both leaders had a sit-down on the sideline of the of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, and during the bilateral meeting, Boris Johnson took Buhari up on the condition of Kanu and the issue of fair trial.
This was disclosed on Thursday by one of President Buhari`s spokesman, Femi Adesina, who said that Buhari in his response, denounced the IPOB leader for using the United Kingdom as a safe haven to lunch verbal attacks on Nigeria.
According to the presidential spokesman, President Buhari also explained to Johnson that Kanu is getting fair hearing on the charges brought against him by the Nigerian state, including access to his lawyers.
He said that for the “uncomplimentary things” the IPOB said against Nigeria he has been provided fair opportunity to defend them in the court of law.
President Buhari suggested that the possibility of bail for Kanu is ruled out, but maintained that Kanu must take the opportunity “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain”.
He also seemed to gloat over the abduction and repatriation of the IPOB leader from Kenya, saying: “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,” said Buhari.
Mr. Adesina said that the president also used the opportunity provide by the meeting to deny the reports about the denial of the IPOB leader access to his lawyers, which the Federal High have ordered as a matter of right to Kanu.
“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?” Said Nigerian President Buhari.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is currently on trial for treason in Nigeria. He is held in a DSS detention facility in Abuja.
