The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi kanu has dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria and Kenya before an international human rights commission.
He petitioned the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights to put pressure on the Nigerian government to restore his freedom.
The pro-Biafra agitator is still in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). There was uncertainty yesterday as to how he is faring in detention as the DSS could not present him in court during his trial.
Justice Binta Nyako cautioned the government security agency to tread carefully and obey her instructions when given.
Kanu made the legal petition through his lawyer; Aloy Ejimakor. He said the Nigerian and Kenyan governments must be held responsible for the abduction of the IPOB leader.
According to Ejimakor: “A few days ago, I commenced a continental legal action against Nigeria and Kenya before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, demanding accountability for the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Both countries also have extradition laws that prohibit this sort of reprehensible conduct that saw Kanu to Nigeria.
“Particularly, extraordinary rendition is expressly prohibited under the African Charter, where It provides in pertinent part that “A State may not transfer (e.g. deport, expel, remove, extradite) an individual to the custody of another State unless it is prescribed by law and in accordance with due process and other international human rights obligations. Extraordinary rendition, or any other transfer, without due process is prohibited”.
“A victim of extraordinary rendition is entitled to remedies mandated by the Charter.
“Therefore, among many other reliefs, I requested that Kanu be restored to his state of being before the rendition, which state of being was that he travelled to Kenya on his British passport and was duly admitted as such and as a free man.
“Further, that no valid territorial jurisdiction can issue from an act of extraordinary rendition because Kanu is, technically speaking, still in Kenya.
“I also requested the Commission to adopt other urgent measures as the Commission sees fit in the circumstances to protect Nnamdi Kanu in the interim.
“Any nation that dabbles in extraordinary rendition has unwittingly brought impediments to her territorial jurisdiction. So, Nigeria, whether it admits it or not, has triggered a hornets’ nest that has, for the first time, brought the international legal order to bear on the matter of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
The Federal government of Nigeria had trailed and rearrested the IPOB leader few weeks ago in Kenya.
Although the Nigerian government is silent about the location of his arrest, his brother and the United Kigdom confirmed that he was last seen in Kenya before his arrest.
Due to his absence in court, Nnamdi Kanu’s trial has been adjourned till October 21, which has sparked outrage amongst his supporters home and abroad.
