The British High Court has made an unconventional ruling in a significant human rights case centred on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a British national and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu had approached the court to challenge the United Kingdom's government for not defending him despite being a citizen against the Nigerian government.

His legal team led by John Halford, Head of Public Law and Human Rights in Blindsman LLP had said that in June 2021, he (Kanu) was abducted from the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, by Nigerian security services and was detained and tortured for around 10 days in Kenya.

He was then flown, blindfolded, on a private plane to Nigeria.

In a statement on Thursday, Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Kanu and IPOB said though the UK High Court frowned at his rendition to Nigeria, it however ruled that the Foreign Secretary did not have to reach the same conclusion.

He said the court also highlighted extracts from the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Nigerian courts, which unanimously found that Kanu was subject to extraordinary rendition and which called for his release.

The Working Group on arbitrary detention is under the United Nation Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).

The group comprises scholars and experts who specialise in human rights issues and related laws.

In its report on July 20, 2022, The UN group described Kanu’s repatriation from Kenya in June 2021 as “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional extradition.”

It also called for the immediate release of the IPOB leader and compensation by the Nigerian and Kenyan governments for the way he was treated.

In the document, the body also indicted both Nigeria and Kenya for Kanu’s abduction and rendition.

Despite the call by the UN Working Group, the Nigerian government has however failed to release the IPOB leader.

Ejimakor said, “Whilst Mr Justice Swift noted the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the two separate rulings from Nigeria’s High Court and Court of Appeal that Mr Kanu had been extraordinarily rendered to Nigeria following his ‘interception’ in Kenya by Nigerian security forces and observed himself that Mr Kanu had been subject to “rendition”, he went on to hold that the Foreign Secretary was legally entitled to make no decision on whether this is the case or not. Bindmans, LLP, the legal team acting for Mr Kanu’s family described the ruling as “extremely difficult to reconcile with long-standing legal precedent and the principle underpinning it”.

“Mr Kanu’s case was heard over four months ago on 15 November 2022. In today’s judgment, Mr Justice Swift noted the evidence of serious wrongs having been committed against Mr Kanu, including that in 2017, the Nigerian state had attempted to kill Mr Kanu (for which a Nigerian High Court awarded compensation and an order for apology), that the Nigerian authorities captured Kanu in 2021 whilst he was in Kenya and subjected him to inhuman and degrading treatment, and crucially that he was subject to “rendition”.

“However, despite clearly recognising the gravity of the wrongs committed against Mr Kanu, the Court disappointingly held that Mr Kanu has no legitimate expectation that the British government should reach a firm view for itself on what had occurred or its seriousness. This is particularly surprising given that the Court itself reached the view that Mr Kanu had been rendered on the basis of the evidence before it.

“The Court’s judgment is unsatisfactory not just for Mr Kanu but for any British national who finds themselves subject to a serious violation of their rights whilst abroad. It effectively enables the Foreign Secretary to prevaricate indefinitely in the face of such a violation and consequently limits the steps the British authorities should take to assist a British national, even in circumstances where there is unequivocal evidence of that violation.

“The Kanu family has appealed against the judgment. Reflecting on the judgment, Kingsley Kanu, who brought the lawsuit said: “The UK High Court has now joined the Nigerian High court and Court of Appeal and the United Nations in recognising, correctly, that my brother was subject to extraordinary rendition. That is something of importance. But I find it very disappointing that in spite of this, the High Court has held that the British authorities are not required to reach a decisive view on his rendition and can refuse to confront the mass of evidence of what has occured. Until the British authorities reach such a view, it is impossible for them to properly consider what steps should be taken to assist my brother.”

“Kanu’s family is represented by John Halford and Shirin Marker of Bindmans LLP, together with Charlotte Kilroy QC of Blackstone Chambers and Tatyana Eatwell of Doughty Street Chambers.

“Ms Shirin Marker said today, that: “Despite taking four months to decide this case, the High Court has produced a judgment that is extremely difficult to reconcile with long-standing legal precedent and the principle underpinning it, which is that British Citizens abused abroad are entitled to expect decisiveness and protection from the British Government, rather than years of hand-wringing procrastination.”

Emergingnation:
Lol ! Las las BIAFRA will be actualised as a sovereign state..

Emergingnation:
Lol ! Las las BIAFRA will be actualised as a sovereign state..

Godsfrezx:
This election have divided Nigeria the money, And the Ibos where treated badly in Lagos.. Don't blame them if they seek Biafra.

ronalmagic10:
Nigeria is not far from UK. They should come and release Nnamdi cownu let's see

Very simple

Notasyouthink:
Stop making noise they can do that if they wish because nigeria is their property.

The british created and own nigeria even the name they gave to your country is what they're answering till this moment. So why are you stupidly making niose?

You are a Gallant UNITY BEGGING FOOL.

ronalmagic10:


So what is stopping them nah? I dare their forefathers to come here and release cownu from DSS custody. Them no born their papa well

Be like say u want to test the might of the Nigerian military. We no come play o

BiafranPatriot:
You are a Gallant UNITY BEGGING FOOL.

Billionaire2:


Under the leadership of a human right abusing, sit at home enforcing, killer-squad ipob? who were recently listed in top terror group in the globe?
The world is not that foolish … my friend.

ronalmagic10:


So what is stopping them nah? I dare their forefathers to come here and release cownu from DSS custody. Them no born their papa well

Be like say u want to test the might of the Nigerian military. We no come play o

ronalmagic10:


At least you recognize I'm begging for unity which means I'm for peace but you lot are barbaric, violent, useless, slaves, evil, primitive, uncivilized heathens, propaganda peddlers, baby factory products, drug dealers

Pls relocate to isreal or wherever the Bleep you lots come from. Idiots

Ever8090:
They been kicking against it from the day he was arrested till date yet, nothing has change..so they should go and sit down and stop disturbing our ear...