Give Nigerian business man Antony Chinedu what belongs to him

 By Peter Nguli

NAIROBI,KENYA: That Antony Chinedu, the controversial drug trafficker suspect has been deported back to Nigeria while he has cases in court regarding the same leaves a lot to be desired. That he was abruptly deported without the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi being informed is even more absurd. 

And that he was deported while still having a case in court regarding his alleged Shs400 million property in Nairobi leaves many questions answered.

It appears there is more than meets the eye. Because we as Kenyans know how things work in Kenya: money first, others follow. 

Whether Chinedu was a drug-trafficker or not is not the point here. If he is indeed a trafficker, he deserves to be deported.

But as Nigerian authorities rightly put it, the right procedures should be followed. That is why they are right to ground the aircraft and its officials. For we wouldn't wish our citizens to be treated the same way unprocedurely while in Nigeria.

Nigeria is a good business partner in our economy especially the Kenya Airways and diplomatic issues must be handled cautiously. 

Even this is a family issue, videos of wrangles with his estranged wife throwing chairs and cups at him as police watched under full glare of TV cameras in previous episodes amount to bullying and intimidation; perhaps because he is a foreigner. Even foreigners deserve police protection. 

The rule of international law says that he who commits a criminal offence should be charged in a court of law in the host country and be deported after serving a given sentence, if that is so decided. 

Chinedu has lived in Kenya for 18 years, married a Kenyan woman and has children. These children will need to see their dad, it is their right. And Chinedu may need to be visiting them at some point as their father, even if he is divorced. 

From media reports, Chinedu claims that he has property worth Shs400 million. If this is true, then there is no question, he deserves at least a share of that property by law. Chinedu argues that he was deported because his wife and other associates want to possess his property. 

If that is true, then the Nigerian authorities must have considered this as unfair. That is why they have grounded the aircraft. For it's immoral to deport someone, even if a criminal, with the intention of getting his property. No wonder it was recently reported that a woman from Central Kenya had hired goons to kill her husband so she can own all her properties while others use pangas. 

If Chinedu is a criminal, arrest him and charge him in court and if guilty sentence him at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. Anyone with two eyes can just sense that this is a scheme behind the scenes to get Chinedu's property through the back door by some powerful forces. 

Give Chinedu what he owns and then deport him or charge him in court and if guilty he will serve his sentence. If not, then it is robbery without violence.