To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has provided consular assistance to Mr Nnamdi Kanu in the last 12 months; and what discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterpart on his imprisonment.
Answered on
7 September 2022
The UK Government has provided consular assistance to Mr Kanu in the last 12 months and continues to provide this. We are in contact with both the Nigerian and Kenyan authorities, Mr Kanu's family and his legal representatives. Our priority is to ensure Mr Kanu's health, welfare and fair treatment.
I [Minister Ford] have raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, and the former Prime Minister discussed his case with President Buhari in June at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The UK Government is seeking clarification about the circumstances of Mr Kanu's arrest from the Nigerian and Kenyan Governments. The UK takes all allegations of human rights violations very seriously and raises concerns with local authorities. We continue to proactively follow up with the Nigerian authorities on Mr Kanu's case.