The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed deep satisfaction over the recent ruling by the High Court of Kenya, which declared the 2021 abduction and forced extradition of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria as illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
In the judgment delivered on June 24, 2025, Justice E.C. Mwita condemned both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments for their roles in what the court described as a breach of domestic and international law. The court further awarded Kanu compensatory damages amounting to KSh10 million for the unlawful treatment he endured while in Kenya.
According to the ruling, Kanu, who entered Kenya lawfully, was entitled to full protection under the country’s 2010 Constitution. However, he was abducted, held in solitary confinement, tortured, and secretly flown to Nigeria without any legal extradition procedure.
“The government of Kenya violated the Constitution and Mr. Nnamdi Kanu’s rights and fundamental freedoms,” Justice Mwita ruled.
Reacting to the judgment, IPOB, in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described the verdict as a “judicial earthquake” that vindicates its consistent assertion that Kanu was a victim of an illegal, politically motivated rendition.
The group maintained that Kanu’s removal from Kenya was not a lawful extradition but an extraordinary rendition that flouted all known legal processes. It accused both the Nigerian and Kenyan authorities of colluding in “a criminal act of state-sponsored international terrorism.”
“He was abducted in broad daylight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, chained, tortured, and flown illegally to Abuja without any judicial hearing or extradition warrant,” IPOB alleged.
The statement further praised Professor PLO Lumumba and his legal team for their professional handling of the case and lauded Justice Mwita for his courage and impartiality in delivering the landmark verdict.
IPOB warned that the ruling marks the beginning of an intensified global campaign to hold those involved accountable under international law.
“This judgment is a victory for justice, human rights, and the rule of law. It leaves a permanent legal stain on the legacies of former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria,” the group added.
The separatist group reiterated its commitment to continue seeking international redress and promised that those responsible “will be pursued to the ends of the earth” in line with universal principles of accountability for human rights violations.
