Justice E.C. Mwita of the High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, has ruled that the arrest, detention, and subsequent transfer of Biafra separatist leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria in June 2021 was illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental rights.
Delivering a 13-page judgment on June 24, 2025, Justice Mwita found both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments culpable of breaching Kanu’s constitutional rights through what he described as a “state-sponsored act of extraordinary rendition.” The court awarded Kanu 10 million Kenyan shillings (approximately ₦119.5 million) in general damages, payable by the Kenyan government.
Justice Mwita stated that Kanu lawfully entered Kenya and was entitled to the full protection of the Kenyan Constitution. Instead, he was abducted, held incommunicado, tortured, denied basic necessities, and forcibly removed from the country without legal process.
The court ruled: “Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was abducted, kept in solitary confinement, tortured, denied food and medication, and later forcibly removed from Kenya without following the law. These actions were unconstitutional and illegal.”
The ruling explicitly condemned the roles played by both governments, labeling the rendition a violation of Kanu’s freedom of movement, security, and dignity as enshrined in Kenyan law.
In response, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) celebrated the judgment as a “judicial earthquake” and a major legal vindication. The group praised lead counsel, Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, for his “courage, clarity, and tenacity,” and commended Justice Mwita for resisting political pressure.
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A statement by IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, described the act as “state-sponsored international terrorism” and accused Nigerian and Kenyan officials of criminal collaboration. IPOB vowed to launch a global accountability campaign against those responsible, including former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Muhammadu Buhari, and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami.
The statement further warned that “international borders will no longer shield criminal regimes from justice,” and urged global institutions to hold all perpetrators accountable under international human rights law.
“This is not the end,” IPOB declared. “This is the beginning of a reckoning.”
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