In a momentous ruling that has sent shockwaves across Africa’s legal and political landscape, the High Court of Kenya sitting in Nairobi has declared the 2021 abduction and extraordinary rendition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenyan soil to Nigeria as unconstitutional, illegal, and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
Justice E.C. Mwita, in a judgment delivered on June 24, 2025, held that both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments acted in brazen contravention of domestic and international law. He ruled that Kanu’s abduction, detention in solitary confinement, torture, and eventual forcible transfer to Nigeria was not only a violation of his human dignity but a betrayal of constitutional safeguards Kenya is bound to uphold.
The court ordered the Kenyan government to pay Kanu general damages of 10 million Kenyan Shillings (approximately ₦120 million) for its unlawful role in the ordeal.
In his verdict, Justice Mwita stated:
> “The government of Kenya violated the Constitution and Mr. Nnamdi Kanu’s rights and fundamental freedoms. He was lawfully in Kenya and entitled to constitutional protection. Instead, he was abducted, kept in solitary confinement, tortured, denied food and medication, chained, humiliated, and forcibly removed without due process — all in gross violation of the law.”
The court unequivocally ruled that Kanu’s treatment and forced transfer amounted to an extraordinary rendition, not a lawful extradition, and condemned the conspiracy between Kenyan and Nigerian operatives as a state-sponsored violation of international human rights standards.
Reacting to the ruling, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) described the judgment as a “resounding judicial earthquake,” declaring it a pivotal moment in their leader’s long legal battle.
In a strongly worded statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful praised the Kenyan judiciary for its courage:
> “In a historic, courageous, and landmark judgement… the High Court of Kenya has exposed the illegality, immorality, and brutality behind the criminal rendition of our leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This verdict has shattered the false narrative and validated what we have always maintained — that Kanu was abducted, tortured, and flown out of Kenya in a heinous act of international terrorism.”
The group also commended the lead counsel in the Kenyan case, renowned legal luminary Professor PLO Lumumba, for his exceptional legal acumen and unwavering pursuit of justice.
> “We salute Prof. Lumumba for his unmatched brilliance and relentless advocacy that pierced through layers of political interference and diplomatic intimidation. This victory is his as much as it is ours,” IPOB added.
IPOB did not mince words in calling out those it accused of orchestrating the abduction, listing former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, among others, as key conspirators in the illegal rendition.
The movement described their actions as “a permanent legal stain” and pledged to launch a global accountability campaign to ensure those responsible for what they termed a crime against humanity are brought to justice — regardless of rank or location.
> “This is not the end. This is the beginning of global reckoning,” IPOB vowed. “The silence of Western powers and the complicity of British diplomatic channels will not deter us. Tyrants across borders must now understand that international lines can no longer shield them from justice.”
The ruling by the High Court of Kenya could set a new legal precedent for similar cases of unlawful international renditions, especially involving political activists and dissidents across the African continent. Legal analysts believe it may spark calls for independent investigations and potentially bring pressure to bear on both the Nigerian and Kenyan governments.
Whether this ruling will influence any outcomes in Kanu’s ongoing legal battles in Nigeria remains uncertain. However, what is crystal clear is that the verdict has reignited the conversation on state abuse of power, human rights violations, and international accountability.
As IPOB declared in closing:
> “To the oppressed peoples of the world, this is your victory — a warning to tyrants that international borders will no longer shield criminal regimes from justice.”
This judgment, while celebrated in many quarters as a triumph of constitutional justice, now raises a deeper question — what next for Nnamdi Kanu, and will justice follow him home?
PIONEER NEWS 