Nnamdi Kanu enjoying luxury life in prison – DSS

Nigeria’s Department of State Services has countered the claim of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu being maltreated in its custody, Top Naija reports.

Recall that the separatist leader filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami SAN, and the Department of State Service DSS (DSS) on Monday, December 13.

Kanu is seeking an order from the Federal High court in Abuja to compel the DSS to allow him access food, medical care, and clothes of his choice. He stated that despite an order of the court, he has neither been allowed to have a change of clothing nor practice his religion in detention.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, December 14, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya stated that Kanu enjoys the best treatment in custody which is obtainable anywhere in the country.

Describing the claim of the IPOB leader being starved as “fallacious”, Afunanya added that adequate attention is paid to Kanu’s health and he is allowed to practice his religion.

According to him;

“The service denies all the inciting allegations by IPOB and state that Nnamdi Kanu is not in a anyway maltreated in custody.

“Accusation of maltreatment negate the services standard operating procedure on the implementation of rights of a suspect.

“Nnamdi Kanu enjoys full luxury in the holding facility in comparable of any of it type anywhere in the country. He is accorded full rights and privileges. He is never denied his rights of worship of freedom from his religious practice.

“Adequate attention is paid to Kanu’s health. He has unhindered access to the best medical care and doctors.

“The story of Kanu being starved is fallacious. He could not have been starved as he enjoys meals of his choice. That he is not allowed a change of clothing is also false. He is regularly allowed change of clothing as against what is presented to the public by IPOB propagandists.

“It is unfortunate that some elements decided to use outright misinformation to represent the state of affairs.”

Kanu‘s arrest has sparked anger among Biafran separatists and other Nigerians supportive to his cause. The World Igbo Congress (WIC) declared the arrest “illegal abduction and international gangsterism”.

Meanwhile, the detention of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Department of State Services would be an interesting lesson preparing him for the greater tasks ahead, the leader of his legal team, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said on Tuesday.

According to him, the IPOB leader was worried over those he had long predicted would betray him.

Ejiofor who said this in a statement to update the public on his visit to Kanu at the DSS custody on Monday said the legal team have complied with all steps directed by Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja “in the likely event that the lawless DSS breach its order(s).”

He said, “Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s present incarceration in the lawless DSS Dungeon offered him the opportunity to identify the chaff discretely mixed with wheat long before now. It is an interesting lesson that is preparing him for the greater tasks ahead. He is fully aware that his freedom is near and will happen like a miracle. On our part, we have crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s.

“Onyendu’s best compliments remains with his true and ardent followers. I struggled to conduct this visit yesterday (Monday) even when my medical situation said otherwise, but I shall always be there for Onyendu no matter the circumstance I find myself. Your prayers are truly impacting and I am doing better this morning.

He said, “Our routine visit to our indefatigable client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was indeed a special one. The visit which was exclusively conducted by my humble self alone, offered us a veritable opportunity to have a heart-to-heart talk without any form of distraction or intrusion from a third party. The conviviality was indeed deep.

“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I must sincerely confess was in a very strong spirit yesterday (Monday). Our interactions were quite frank and positively heartwarming.