Embattled IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu
A High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, has ruled that the detention and transfer of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 was unlawful and illegal.
The court has awarded Kanu compensatory damages of 10 million Kenyan shillings for gross violations of his fundamental rights.
Justice E. Mwita, the presiding judge, faulted both the Nigerian and Kenyan governments for Kanu’s rendition, citing gross violations of his rights as guaranteed by the constitutions of both countries.
“Having entered Kenya lawfully, he was subject to the protection offered by the Constitution of Kenya 2010, and the Government of Kenya had an obligation to uphold and protect his rights and fundamental freedom,” Justice Mwita said.
The court’s decision is significant, given the complex legal history surrounding Kanu’s case.
While the Court of Appeal in Abuja had previously ordered Kanu’s release, citing improper extradition from Kenya, the Supreme Court of Nigeria later overturned this decision, allowing the trial to proceed.
In its judgment, the Kenyan court emphasized the importance of upholding fundamental rights and freedoms, regardless of the circumstances.
The ruling has sparked renewed debate about the rule of law and the protection of human rights in both Kenya and Nigeria.
