By Nnamdi Kanu
Kenyan court rules arrest and rendition were illegal and unconstitutional
Summary
- High Court in Nairobi finds Kenyan and Nigerian governments violated Kanu’s rights
- Court awards ₦120 million in damages and orders government to cover legal costs
- IPOB hails ruling as a major victory for justice and human rights
Nairobi, Kenya — A High Court in Nairobi has ruled that the arrest and extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 was illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental rights.
In the landmark judgment delivered on 24 June 2025, Justice E.C. Mwita held that Kanu, a British citizen who entered Kenya lawfully, was abducted, detained incommunicado, tortured, and denied access to food, water, medical care, and legal representation, all in breach of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and international legal standards.
The court condemned the covert operation carried out at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, stating that it was executed with the knowledge and complicity of Kenyan authorities.
The court awarded Kanu 10 million Kenyan shillings (approximately ₦119.5–120 million) in damages to be paid by the Kenyan government through the Attorney General and also ordered the state to cover the costs of litigation.
The verdict is a significant legal setback for both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments, particularly as it contradicts earlier denials by Kenyan officials, including the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, who in 2021 insisted that the government had no role in Kanu’s arrest and challenged anyone to prove otherwise.
IPOB welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “judicial earthquake.” Spokesperson Emma Powerful said it confirmed the group’s long-standing claim that Kanu’s rendition was not a lawful extradition but a criminal abduction.
Represented by prominent lawyer Professor PLO Lumumba, IPOB stated the ruling sets a precedent against state-sponsored violations and vowed to seek further accountability through international channels.
