- Nnamdi Kanu has been linked with the 2,671 pump action rifles illegally imported from Turkey
- The FG said a Turkish citizen, Abdukadir Erahraman, visited Kanu sometimes in July 2017 when he was urging “Biafrans to rise up and fight a good fight for freedom”
- The secessionist group, however, denied any link to the intercepted weapons
The federal government has linked the 2,671 pump action rifles illegally imported from Turkey to Nnamdi Kanu, fleeing leader of southeast secessionist group.
Dayo Apata, the solicitor-general of the federation and permanent-secretary, federal ministry of justice, said this while opposing the secessionist group’s motion filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the court’s order proscribing it and designating it as a terrorist organisation, Punch reports.
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Nigeria's FG in a counter-affidavit submitted that Kanu's group was a violent group pretending to be non-violent.
The FG noted that a Turkish citizen, Abdukadir Erahraman, visited Kanu sometimes in July 2017 when he was urging “Biafrans to rise up and fight a good fight for freedom.”
The FG also drew a link between the Turkish citizen’s visit to Kanu and the arms smuggled into Nigeria.
The counter-affidavit also noted that the NCS had intercepted 2,671 rifles smuggled from Turkey in 2017 alone.
“That a Turkish citizen, Abdulkadir Erkahraman, visited Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the respondent/applicant in Isiama Afara, Umuahia, Abia State sometimes in July 2017, and has been canvassing support for the secessionist agenda of the respondent/applicant. He also admonished Biafrans to rise up and fight a good fight for freedom.’
“That the Nigeria Customs Service had on four occasions this year intercepted pump action rifles totalling 2,671 illegally imported into the country. Copies of the report on arms smuggling is attached herewith and marked as Exhibit FGN 2A and 2B.”
However, the secessionist group through in a further affidavit filed by its counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, denied any link to the intercepted weapons.
He said: “That contrary to the erroneous deposition in paragraph 6(h) of the applicant/respondent’s counter-affidavit which is denied, the alleged pump action rifles totalling 2,671, illegally imported into the country from Turkey, was not directly traced to Nnamdi Kanu or anyone associated with him.”
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the federal government alleged that the double barrel rifles intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service at the tin can port were imported into the country by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
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Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Wednesday 15 November 2017