IPOB Leader Awarded Damages as Court Rules Rendition Was Unlawful
A High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, has ruled that the 2021 abduction and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was illegal and a gross violation of his human rights under Kenyan and international law.
TJ News Nigeria reports that Justice E.C. Mwita of the Milimani High Court issued the judgment on Thursday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit (Case No. HCCHRPET/E359/2021) filed by Kingsley Kanu, the younger brother of the IPOB leader.
Court Rules Kenya Violated Kanu’s Rights
In the detailed judgment, Justice Mwita declared that:
“The abduction, incommunicado detention, torture, and illegal transfer of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 was unlawful, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.”
The court held that the operation violated Kenya’s Constitution and international human rights treaties, and directly implicated several top government officials.
Kenyan Officials and Agencies Found Culpable
The court named multiple Kenyan government agencies and officials as complicit, including:
- Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior & National Government Coordination
- Director of Immigration Services
- Director of Criminal Investigations
- Officer Commanding Police Division, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
- Attorney General of Kenya, among 10 others
Justice Mwita stated that the Nigerian and Kenyan governments acted jointly in executing Kanu’s illegal removal, noting that he was abducted without lawful cause, subjected to torture, and detained incommunicado.
Court Awards Compensation to Nnamdi Kanu
As a consequence of the human rights violations, the court ordered the Kenyan government to pay compensatory damages of 10 million Kenyan shillings to Nnamdi Kanu.
The IPOB leader’s legal team in Kenya was led by renowned lawyer and constitutional scholar, Prof. PLO Lumumba.
Background: Nnamdi Kanu’s Controversial Rendition
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and subsequently flown to Nigeria under controversial circumstances. He has since remained in detention while facing terrorism-related charges filed by the Nigerian Government.
Kanu and his supporters have consistently described the act as a case of extraordinary rendition, arguing that he was abducted without due process in violation of both local and international laws.
IPOB Suffers Legal Setback in Nigeria
In a separate but related development, TJ News Nigeria learnt that the Nigerian Court of Appeal has affirmed the proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organization. This ruling dealt a blow to the separatist group’s attempts to overturn its designation by the Federal Government.
What This Means Going Forward
The Kenyan court’s ruling adds new legal weight to IPOB’s long-standing claim that Kanu’s arrest was a violation of international norms. While it may not directly impact his ongoing trial in Nigeria, it could strengthen his defense in international legal forums and embolden diplomatic efforts to secure his release.
This development is likely to attract scrutiny from international human rights groups and may put pressure on the Nigerian government as Kanu’s legal team explores further remedies.
