The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted strongly to the recent decision by Kenya’s High Court declaring the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu illegal, unconstitutional, and in breach of international law.
Through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the verdict vindicated its long-held position that Kanu was abducted and tortured before being forcefully repatriated to Nigeria in 2021.
“The extraordinary rendition of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is a gross violation of both domestic and international legal instruments,” Powerful said.
He listed the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, especially Article 12(4), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as key legal frameworks breached by Kanu’s forceful return.
According to him, these international laws prohibit the arbitrary removal or deportation of individuals without due process.
IPOB believes the ruling in Kenya shows a growing international awareness of what it described as the “criminal conduct” of those involved in Kanu’s arrest and transfer.
Supreme Court Ruling Must Stand – IPOB Warns Trial Court
Emma Powerful reminded the Nigerian judiciary that the Supreme Court’s ruling in FRN v. Nnamdi Kanu (December 2023) is final and binding on all lower courts.
“The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, is bound by the decision of the Supreme Court,” he said.
He cautioned against any moves by the trial judge to act outside the limits of this judgment.
“Even if the judgment has perceived flaws or omissions, it must be obeyed as the law of the land,” IPOB insisted.
The group acknowledged the judgment from Kenya with appreciation but said the Nigerian trial court was not the right place to overturn or question the Supreme Court’s conclusions.
Instead, IPOB advised that any disagreement with the Supreme Court’s verdict should be pursued through further appeal, either in Nigerian courts or at international tribunals.
“Justice Omotosho cannot lawfully go against the Supreme Court’s ruling under the guise of correcting injustice,” Powerful stressed.
He added that the court must allow the rule of law to prevail by respecting the legal hierarchy of decisions.
IPOB’s statement serves as both a warning and a call for judicial restraint amid what it called growing pressure to undermine established legal standards.
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