Femi Adesina, a former spokesman for ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that the president intervened to prevent the elimination of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from his hideout.

Adesina said the then government would have eliminated Kanu but Buhari prevented such a move.

This was contained in Adesina’s book: “Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),” which was launched in Abuja last week.

He said Buhari did Kanu a favour by allowing his extradition to Nigeria.

Adesina said the former president disclosed this during his meeting with some Igbo delegation under the aegis of ‘Highly-Respected Igbo Greats’.

He quoted Buhari as telling the delegation: “In the past six years, I have developed a system where in which I don’t interfere with the judiciary. That was why in the case of Kanu, I said the best was to subject him to the system.

“Let him make his case in court instead of giving a terrible impression of the country from outside.

“I feel it is a favour to give him (Kanu) that opportunity. Government could have mobilized to eliminate him where he was, but we did not do that.”

In June 2021, Kanu was subjected to extraordinary rendition from Kenya to continue his trial for terrorism.

This followed the decision of the IPOB leader to breach his bail conditions and escape from Nigeria.