The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed profound satisfaction following a landmark judgment by the High Court of Kenya, which declared the 2021 rendition of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, illegal and unconstitutional. The ruling, delivered on June 24, 2025, by the Nairobi-based court, found that Kanu’s abduction, detention without communication, alleged torture, and subsequent transfer to Nigeria constituted a severe breach of his fundamental human rights under both Kenyan and international law.
Okay.ng reports that in a statement released on Friday, IPOB’s Spokesman, Emma Powerful, described the judgment as a “resounding judicial earthquake” that has shaken the very foundations of Kenya’s judiciary. He praised the legal team, particularly Professor PLO Lumumba, the lead counsel in the Kenyan litigation, for their courage, clarity, and tenacity which culminated in this monumental victory.
The statement emphasized, “We know, and now the world must acknowledge, that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not commit any crime in Kenya. He entered Kenya lawfully as a British citizen. He was abducted in broad daylight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by agents of Nigeria’s secret police in collusion with rogue elements of the Kenyan security apparatus.”
The court held the Kenyan government liable for the human rights violations and awarded Kanu compensation amounting to 10 million Kenyan shillings. The judgment further declared that Kanu was tortured and detained incommunicado, actions that violated the Kenyan Constitution. It also condemned the illegal removal of Kanu from Kenya, stating the Kenyan government’s complicity alongside the Nigerian government.
IPOB’s statement pointedly noted that this verdict places a permanent legal stain on the records of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Attorney General Abubakar Malami. The group declared that this ruling marks the beginning of a global accountability campaign targeting all those responsible for crimes against humanity.
The statement concluded with a tribute to Justice E.C. Mwita for judicial bravery and to Professor PLO Lumumba and his team for their exceptional advocacy. IPOB framed the verdict as a victory for oppressed peoples worldwide and a stern warning to tyrants that international borders will no longer shield criminal regimes from justice. The group also urged the Nigerian judiciary to embrace courage in delivering justice, affirming, “Kenya has spoken. Justice is rising.”
