The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to dismiss the suit seeking to compel him to produce the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. On Thursday, Kanu's lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor had brought an application before the court, praying the court to order the Chief of Army Staff to produce his client alive or dead.
He disclosed that Kanu was last seen on September 14, 2017. He attributed the disappearance of his client to the alleged "invasion" of his residence by soldiers acting on Buratai's instruction. Opposing the motion, Buratai's counsel, Akinolu Kehinde said Kanu was not and has never been in the custody of the Nigerian Army.
"The Nigerian Army did not at any time arrest or take Kanu into its custody within the period the military operation lasted in the South-East.”
He further argued that there was no document before the court to prove that Kanu was in the custody of the army. He stressed that the onus was on Kanu to prove that he was taken by the army.
Meanwhile, Col. A.A Yusuf has deposed a counter affidavit debunking claims that the Nigerian Army invaded Kanu's House during the operation. Justice Binta Nyako has adjourned the matter till December 13, 2017 for ruling.
