Chinedu now demands pay for officials’ release

Deported Nigerian Anthony Chinedu on Monday demanded full payment of his investments in Kenya before seven officials and a plane held at a Lagos airport are released.

New details are emerging on how Kenyan officials who accompanied Mr Chinedu and two other Nigerians deported two weeks ago spent the night in their aircraft because they were not allowed to leave.

Mr Chinedu, speaking to the Nation on phone from Leki Beach, Lagos, claimed: “I am the official of the government of Nigeria. The aircraft is now mine, it is waiting for me at the airport,” he said, adding: “All I want is my money, and without these guys being detained here, I won’t get my money. But you can rest assured they are safe, they are eating well.”

The Kenyans and a Swedish pilot — five crew and seven security and immigration officials — flew with the three Nigerians kicked out on drug trafficking claims to Lagos, but were not allowed to leave.

On Monday, one of the detained officials claimed they slept in the aircraft and ate spoilt food because they were considered illegal entrants. They contacted the High Commission when they realised the issue was getting out of hand.

“We were only allowed out in the evening the next day because embassy (Kenyan High Commission) officials had come in,” one of the officials said.

When contacted, an official at the Nigerian High Commission in Kenya said the group was currently staying at the Park View Astoria Hotel in the Ikoyi suburb of Lagos.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said the matter was being handled, but declined to give more details.

Her Internal Coordination counterpart, Mr Joseph ole Lenku, under whose docket Immigration lies, said: These are delicate negotiations between the two countries. Until something comes out of it, we cannot give you the details. However, the government is doing everything it can.”