The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on the Nigerian government to review the ongoing trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, following a landmark judgment by the High Court of Kenya that declared his 2021 arrest and transfer to Nigeria illegal.
In a statement issued by IPOB's Director of Legal Affairs, Research and Global Communications, Onyedikachi Ifedi, the group welcomed the Kenyan court's ruling as a significant development that necessitates a fresh examination of Kanu's legal proceedings in Nigeria.
Kenyan Court's Findings
According to IPOB, the Kenyan court determined that the circumstances surrounding Kanu's return to Nigeria violated due legal procedure, particularly noting the absence of a formal extradition hearing. This ruling, the group argues, raises fundamental questions about the jurisdictional basis of Kanu's ongoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The group referenced Section 2(3)(f)(ii) of Nigeria's Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which classifies unlawful cross-border transfers that violate treaties as serious offenses under certain conditions.
Legal Implications
IPOB further highlighted Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which stipulates that individuals legally residing in a country cannot be expelled except through processes consistent with the law.
"This is not about political considerations but about upholding constitutional safeguards and respecting international legal obligations," the statement emphasized.
The group has urged Justice James Omotosho, who currently presides over Kanu's trial in Abuja, to invite submissions from both prosecution and defense regarding the impact of the Kenyan judgment on the ongoing proceedings.
The Kenyan court's ruling represents a potential turning point in Kanu's legal battle, which has drawn international attention since his controversial arrest and return to Nigeria in 2021.
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