The controversy surrounding the 2021 arrest and rendition of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has taken a new twist as a Nigerian human rights lawyer, Christopher Chidera, accuses Kenya of complicity in what he calls an “illegal abduction and torture operation.’
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Chidera alleged that the Kenyan government violated its own laws and international treaties by allowing Kanu to be seized on its soil and transferred to Nigeria without due process.
Kanu, a British-Nigerian citizen, was reportedly abducted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on June 19, 2021, while waiting for a friend. According to Chidera, he was detained in a secret location for eight days, chained to the floor, denied access to medication, and subjected to inhumane treatment before being flown to Nigeria on a private jet.
“The Kenyan Constitution guarantees freedom from arbitrary detention and torture. Yet, Kanu was abducted without a warrant, held incommunicado, and forcefully handed over to Nigerian authorities in a manner that violates every known legal principle,” Chidera stated.
He further argued that Kenya ignored its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture, which prohibit extradition without due process, especially when the individual faces the risk of persecution or torture.
Despite Kenya’s repeated denials of involvement, Kanu’s supporters insist that Nairobi facilitated his rendition in violation of its own Extradition Act and Commonwealth protocols. “This case has not only endangered Kanu’s rights but has also stained Kenya’s reputation as a law-abiding state,” Chidera added.
As calls for accountability grow, legal experts warn that Kenya’s alleged role in Kanu’s transfer could spark diplomatic and human rights consequences. The question remains: will Nairobi be held to account, or will this remain another case of justice denied?