Nairobi high court finds Kanu’s 2021 capture unconstitutional, orders damages.
A Kenyan High Court has ruled that the 2021 rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, from Nairobi to Nigeria was illegal and violated his constitutional rights. Chief Justice E.C. Mwita declared that Kenyan authorities failed to safeguard Kanu’s rights, colluding with external actors in an extrajudicial operation. The ruling also implicates INTERPOL in facilitating or ignoring the breach of international human rights norms.
The court’s judgment highlighted multiple violations, including extended detention without access to food, water, legal counsel, or judicial oversight. Justice Mwita emphasized that even non-state actors are bound by constitutional protections in Kenya. The ruling ordered the state to compensate Kanu and demanded accountability and review of the procedures used to facilitate his extradition.
The decision casts a renewed spotlight on broader concerns about Nigeria’s handling of dissent and political opposition. For IPOB supporters and human rights advocates, the ruling is a vindication and a diplomatic embarrassment for both Kenya and Nigeria. Analysts suggest it could embolden similar legal challenges across African jurisdictions caught in cross-border security collaborations.
Nigeria’s federal government has yet to issue an official response. Stakeholders predict the case may strain bilateral relations with Kenya and trigger broader debates about sovereignty, international law, and political persecution under the guise of security.
I'm Adedayo Obadina
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