The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has hailed a landmark judgment by the High Court of Kenya, which declared the abduction and forced transfer of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 as unlawful and unconstitutional.
In a ruling delivered on 24 June 2025, Justice E.C. Mwita condemned both the Kenyan and Nigerian governments for gross violations of Kanu’s fundamental rights and awarded him KSh10 million in compensatory damages.
Justice Mwita, in his judgment, stated, “The government of Kenya violated the Constitution and Mr. Nnamdi Kanu’s rights and fundamental freedoms. Having entered Kenya lawfully, he was subject to the protection offered by the Constitution of Kenya 2010. However, he was abducted, kept in solitary confinement, tortured, and forcibly removed from Kenya without following the law.”
The court further declared that Kanu’s abduction, incommunicado detention, and denial of food, water, and medication were flagrant breaches of his constitutional rights. It also ruled that his forcible removal to Nigeria violated Kenyan laws and international legal standards.
Reacting in a statement on Friday signed by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group described the judgment as a ‘resounding judicial earthquake’ that vindicates its long-standing position on Kanu’s illegal rendition.
IPOB accused the Nigerian and Kenyan governments of orchestrating a ‘criminal act of state-sponsored international terrorism’ and vowed to pursue global accountability for those involved.