Court Declares Nnamdi Kanu’s Transfer to Nigeria Illegal, Awards Damages

A High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, has ruled that the abduction and extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 was unlawful and a gross violation of his fundamental rights.

Delivering judgment on June 24, 2025, Justice E.C. Mwita held that Kanu’s arrest and subsequent deportation to Nigeria were illegal, unconstitutional, and in direct breach of both Kenyan law and international legal norms. The court awarded the IPOB leader 10 million Kenyan shillings in general damages, holding the Kenyan government liable for violating his constitutional rights.

According to the judge, “Mr. Nnamdi Kanu lawfully entered Kenya and was therefore entitled to the full protection of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The government of Kenya had a duty to uphold and protect his rights, but instead, he was abducted, held in solitary confinement, tortured, denied basic necessities like food and medication, and forcibly removed from Kenya without due legal process.”

Justice Mwita issued several declarations in the verdict, including that the Kenyan government violated Kanu’s freedom of movement, security, and dignity. He emphasized that Kanu’s removal to Nigeria did not follow any legal extradition process, making the act not only unconstitutional but also illegal under Kenyan and international law.

The ruling has sparked a wave of celebration among IPOB supporters and human rights advocates. In a statement released shortly after the judgment, IPOB described the verdict as a “landmark legal earthquake” that exposes the illegality and political conspiracy behind Kanu’s 2021 arrest.

“The High Court of Kenya has vindicated our consistent position that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was not extradited; he was kidnapped and subjected to extraordinary rendition. This ruling confirms that what occurred was a crime — an act of state-sponsored terrorism,” IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful said.

IPOB praised the legal efforts led by renowned Kenyan constitutional lawyer, Professor PLO Lumumba, who represented Kanu in the Kenyan court. The group also hailed Justice Mwita for his courage in the face of what it described as “ferocious political interference and international diplomatic pressure.”

“This judgment places a permanent legal stain on the legacies of former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, as well as Nigeria’s former Attorney General Abubakar Malami. It also exposes attempts by past and present Nigerian leaders, including Tinubu, to cover up this gross violation,” the statement added.

IPOB warned that this is only the beginning of a broader global legal campaign to seek justice and accountability. “No border or political immunity will shield the perpetrators of this illegal act. International law is clear — extraordinary rendition is a crime against humanity, and those responsible will be pursued,” the group vowed.