The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied allegations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that its leader Nnamdi Kanu who is in the secret police’s custody is being denied basic needs.
Spokesman of the DSS Peter Afunanya, at a world press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said Mr Kanu also confirmed to former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe and others that he is not being maltreated in DSS custody.
“The Service denies all the inciting allegations by IPOB and states that Nnamdi Kanu is not, in any way, maltreated in custody. Accusations of maltreatment negate the Service’s Standard Operation Procedure on the implementation of rights of a suspect,” he said.
“Nnamdi Kanu enjoys full luxury in the holding facility incomparable to any of its type anywhere in the country. He is accorded full rights and privileges. He is never denied his right of worship or freedom from his select religious practice.
“Adequate attention is paid to Kanu’s health. He has unhindered access to the best medical care and doctors. Kanu, himself, has confirmed to his visitors that the Service has never, in any way, maltreated him. He even confirmed this to the quartet of Senators Ike Ekweremadu and Enyinnaya Abaribe; Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Nigeria and Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace and Ambassador Okechukwu Emuchay, MFR, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who saw him on Wednesday, 8th December, 2021.”
Afunanya also denied allegations that Kanu is being starved, or not being allowed to change clothes.
“Rather than focus on how he should get justice, Kanu’s legal team and some mischievous elements among them have chosen to use fake news to mislead the public. While the Court in its wisdom ordered that Kanu be remanded in the safer DSS Custody, some of his legal representatives, for reasons best known to them, preferred Kuje Prison and have failed to explain the rationale for such choice,” he added.
