The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has hailed a landmark ruling by the High Court of Kenya, which declared the abduction and transfer of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 as illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his human rights.
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 27, 2025, and signed by IPOB’s Spokesperson and Media & Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group described the court’s decision as a “resounding judicial earthquake” that exposes the “international lawlessness and state-sponsored terrorism” carried out by both Nigerian and Kenyan governments.
According to the statement, Hon. Justice E.C. Mwita of the Kenyan High Court ruled that:
Kanu was abducted without lawful cause;
He was tortured and detained incommunicado in breach of Kenyan constitutional provisions;
His removal from Kenya was unconstitutional and violated international protocols;
The Kenyan government was complicit in the operation, which lacked any formal extradition process.
The court awarded 10 million Kenyan shillings in compensatory damages to Kanu, which IPOB called a “token” compared to the “monumental injustice inflicted,” but nonetheless a major legal victory and global vindication of its longstanding claims.
“This judgement vindicates our consistent position that what transpired in Nairobi in June 2021 was not extradition but extraordinary rendition — a criminal act of state-sponsored international terrorism,” the statement said.
IPOB praised the legal team led by Professor PLO Lumumba, calling his efforts “exceptional,” and lauded the courage of the Kenyan judiciary for standing firm in the face of alleged political and diplomatic pressure.
“No Shield for Criminal Regimes”
IPOB further accused former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as ex-Attorney General Abubakar Malami, of orchestrating Kanu’s illegal rendition in violation of Kenyan and international law. The statement also condemned successive Nigerian administrations, including those of Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima, for what it described as ongoing attempts to cover up the act.
“This is the beginning of a global accountability campaign… All those responsible shall be pursued to the ends of the earth under the universal principle of accountability for crimes against humanity,” IPOB vowed.
Call for Nigerian Judiciary to Reflect
In a pointed message to Nigeria’s judiciary, IPOB urged legal institutions in the country to draw inspiration from Kenya’s handling of the case.
“Let this be a mirror: Justice is not an act of cowardice, but of courage,” the group declared.
Concluding the statement, IPOB described the ruling as a warning to tyrants that sovereign borders will no longer protect criminal regimes from justice, while calling on oppressed people globally to see the judgment as a victory for human rights, justice, and international law.
“The world now knows the truth. Kenya has spoken. Justice is rising,” it stated.