A High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, has declared the arrest and transfer of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 as illegal and unconstitutional. The court ruled that the act violated his fundamental human rights and awarded him 10 million Kenyan shillings (approximately ₦120 million) in compensatory damages.
Justice E.C. Mwita, who delivered the judgment, condemned the actions of both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments, stating they amounted to grave breaches of constitutional rights.
“Having lawfully entered Kenya, Mr. Kanu was entitled to the full protection of the Kenyan Constitution,” Justice Mwita said. “Instead, he was abducted, detained in solitary confinement, tortured, denied food and medical attention, humiliated, and forcibly removed from the country without due legal process.”
The court issued several declarations, including that:
- Mr. Kanu’s arrest, incommunicado detention, and mistreatment violated his fundamental rights;
- His forcible removal to Nigeria contravened Kenyan law and constitutional protections, particularly his right to personal security and freedom of movement;
- The Kenyan Government, represented by the Attorney General, is liable for the violations and must pay general damages of Kshs 10 million.
IPOB Reacts, Hails Ruling as Legal Victory
In response, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) described the judgment as a historic legal triumph and a validation of its long-standing position regarding Kanu’s detention.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said:
“This ruling by the High Court of Kenya affirms that the events of June 2021 were not a lawful extradition, but an act of extraordinary rendition — an illegal, internationally condemned operation involving both the Nigerian and Kenyan governments.”
The group praised Professor PLO Lumumba, lead counsel in the Kenyan case, for his leadership and advocacy, and expressed gratitude to Justice Mwita for delivering a verdict despite alleged political and diplomatic pressure.
According to IPOB, Kanu, a British citizen, was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and unlawfully detained by operatives allegedly working in collusion with Nigerian authorities. He was reportedly tortured and transported to Abuja via private jet without any legal extradition process.
IPOB further alleged that the incident left a “permanent stain” on the reputations of former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, as well as other officials including former Attorney General Abubakar Malami.
The group vowed to pursue global accountability for those involved, declaring:
“This verdict is only the beginning of an international campaign for justice. No political figure involved in this act — whether in Kenya, Nigeria, or beyond — will escape the reach of international law.”
IPOB concluded by framing the ruling as a victory for oppressed people worldwide, asserting that the ruling sends a strong message to regimes that international borders no longer shield violations of human rights from justice.
