This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
On July 2, 2021, Kenya's ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage, denied reports that Nigerian militia leader Nnamdi Kanu had been arrested and extradited to Nigeria from Kenya.
According to Machage, the allegations were 'fictional, imaginary, and deliberately concocted' to fuel antagonistic feelings among certain sections of the Nigerian people.
Machage challenged anyone aware of the arrest in Kenya to present the facts, including where, when, how, and who was involved in the arrest.
Kenya and Nigeria continue to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations, with both countries committed to sustaining their historical bond of friendship.
However, the Kenyan government was not pleased with how President Uhuru Kenyatta's name had been dragged into the matter.
On June 29, 2021, Nnamdi Kanu was presented at a Nigerian court, four years after he fled the country.
Initially, authorities in Nigeria claimed that Kanu was arrested and extradited from the United Kingdom, where he also has citizenship status. However, the UK government denied having anything to do with his arrest.
Kanu's family has threatened to sue Kenya for allegedly deporting Kanu.
