The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has welcomed a landmark ruling by the Kenyan High Court that declared the 2021 rendition of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, illegal and unconstitutional. The Nairobi court’s judgment on June 24, 2025, found that Kanu’s abduction, secret detention, torture allegations, and forced transfer to Nigeria violated his fundamental human rights under Kenyan and international law.
In a press release, IPOB’s spokesperson Emma Powerful hailed the judgment as a “resounding judicial earthquake” shaking the legal foundations of Kenya’s judiciary. The group praised the legal team led by Professor PLO Lumumba for their courage and persistence in securing this historic victory.
The statement underscored that Kanu was legally present in Kenya as a British citizen and was abducted in broad daylight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Nigerian secret police agents working with rogue Kenyan security officials. The court held the Kenyan government liable for these violations and awarded Kanu 10 million Kenyan shillings in compensation.
The judgment stated that Kanu was tortured and held incommunicado, in violation of the Kenyan Constitution, and that his removal from Kenya was illegal. It implicated both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments in the unlawful operation.
IPOB noted that the ruling leaves a permanent legal stain on former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami. The group declared that this is the beginning of a global campaign to hold all perpetrators accountable under international law for crimes against humanity.
The statement concluded by thanking Justice E.C. Mwita for his judicial bravery and Professor Lumumba’s team for their exceptional advocacy. IPOB described the verdict as a victory for oppressed peoples worldwide and a warning to tyrants that international borders will no longer protect criminal regimes. The group also urged the Nigerian judiciary to embrace courage in delivering justice, affirming, “Kenya has spoken. Justice is rising.”