*IPOB Lauds Judgment
THE leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has invited anybody wishing to visit him to his Department of State Service (DSS) facility.
In his reaction to the Kenyan High Court’s ruling that declared his rendition illegal, Kanu, through his special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, on Friday, June 27, after his routine meeting with the Biafra agitator, wrote on his X handle: “Rising from today’s visitation, MAZI NNAMDI KANU took the opportunity to hail his lawyers & siblings for the stunning victory from Kenya.
“He also extended an open invitation to anybody (who is in doubt about his messages thru his lawyers) to personally pay him a visit at the DSS.”
Recall that Kanu was rearrested by security agents in June 2021 and subjected him to rendition back to Nigeria.
However, a Kenyan High Court sitting in Nairobi, on June 24, ruled that his rendition was unlawful and illegal.
The court also awarded compensatory damages of 10 million Kenyan shillings against the Kenyan Government for gross violations of Kanu’s fundamental rights.
Justice E. Mwita, faulted both the Nigerian and Kenyan Governments for the rendition of Kanu, in gross violations of his rights, as guaranteed by the constitutions of the respective countries.
Justice Nwita added that having entered Kenya lawfully, Kanu was subject to the protection offered by the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Government of Kenya had an obligation to uphold and protect his rights and fundamental freedom.
In its reaction to the Kenyan court judgment IPOB hailing the ruling. Its spokesman, Emma Powerful, in a press statement on Friday, described the judgment as a resounding judicial earthquake that has shaken the legal foundations of the judiciary in the country.
According to the statement: “We are grateful beyond measure to the brilliant legal leadership of Professor PLO Lumumba, lead counsel in the Kenyan litigation, whose courage, clarity and tenacity led to this monumental legal victory.
“We know, and now the world must acknowledge, that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not commit any crime in Kenya. He entered Kenya lawfully as a British citizen. He was abducted in broad daylight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by agents of Nigeria’s secret Police, in collusion with rogue elements of the Kenyan security apparatus.”
IPOB stated that the verdict places a permanent and indelible legal stain on the records of former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, as well as former attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami.
It continued: “Let it be known that this is not the end; this is the beginning of a global accountability campaign. All those responsible, in Kenya, Nigeria or elsewhere, shall be pursued to the ends of the earth under the universal principle of accountability for crimes against humanity.
“To Justice E.C. Mwita, we say thank you for your judicial bravery. To Professor PLO Lumumba and his team, we salute your exceptional advocacy. To the oppressed peoples of the world, this is your victory, a warning to tyrants that international borders will no longer shield criminal regimes from justice.
“To the Nigerian judiciary, let this be a mirror: Justice is not an act of cowardice, but of courage. The world now knows the truth. Kenya has spoken.”
The Court of Appeal (Abuja Division) had ordered Kanu’s release on October 13, 2022, after striking out the terrorism and treasonable felony charge filed by the Nigerian Government on grounds that he was not properly extradited from Kenya.
The Supreme Court, however, nullified the appeal court decision in a judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, holding that a series of illegalities carried out by the government, including a military raid on Kanu’s home, prompting his fleeing the country for safety, and his subsequent extradition from Kenya, were not enough to stop his trial.
The apex court subsequently ordered his retrial at the high court, which is currently ongoing.
