A High Court in Kenya, sitting in Nairobi has declared that the abduction and detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 is unlawful and illegal.
The court also awarded compensatory damages of 10 million Kenyan shillings against the Kenyan Government for gross violations of Kanu’s fundamental human rights.
The presiding judge Justice E. Mwita in his judgement faulted both Nigeria and Kenya government for rendition of Nnamdi Kanu in gross violations of his rights as guaranteed by the constitutions.
Justice Nwita further said Having entered Kenya lawfully he was subject to the protection offered by the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the government of Kenya had an obligation to uphold and protect his rights and fundamental freedom.
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The Court of Appeal in Abuja, had ordered the release of Nnamdi Kanu on October 13, 2022, after striking out the terrorism and treasonable felony charge filed by the Nigerian government, on grounds that the IPOB leader was not properly extradited from Kenya.
However Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed the Appeal Court’s decision.
In a judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court noted that despite series of illegalities carried out by the government including a military raid on his home prompting his fleeing the country for safety, and his subsequent extradition from Kenya, that’s not enough to stop a trial.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
