Texas Rep urges Nigerian Supreme Court to unconditionally release IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

Texas House Representative, Jarvis Johnson has urged the Nigerian Supreme Court to unconditionally release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 

Representative Johnson, from District 139, highlighted the consensus of legal opinions both within and outside Nigeria, expecting the Supreme Court to affirm the judgments. 

He emphasised that Kanu was extradited by the Government of Nigeria from Kenya on June 27, 2021, and remains the leader of the non-violent IPOB, advocating for an internationally supervised referendum on the Biafran issue within Nigeria.

Pointing to the High Court of Enugu State’s decision on October 30, 2023, Johnson noted that classifying IPOB as a terrorist group contravenes the Nigerian Constitution. 

He asserted that without a valid legal basis, Kanu’s continued solitary confinement is illegal and discriminatory.

According to Johnson, various Nigerian courts, including those in Umuhia, Abia State, and the Court of Appeals in Abuja, have previously ordered Kanu’s immediate release, having found no basis for his confinement.

He said, “Undisputed facts are as follows; MNK was extraordinarily renditioned by the Government of Nigeria (GON) from Kenya on June 27, 2021.

“Then, and now, he is the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a non-violent group, advocating for an internationally supervised referendum to resolve the Biafran issue within the Nigeria polity. 

“Recently, on October 30, 2023, the High Court of Enugu State held that the classification of IPOB as a terrorist group by the GON and the Southeast Governor’s Forum contravenes Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution. 

“It follows that the present and any future treatment of IPOB, its leadership and members as a terrorist group is illegal, and per se, discriminatory. Therefore, there is now no valid legal basis for the continued solitary confinement of MNK.

“Many other Nigerian Courts which had previously opined on the matter, including the High Court in Umuhia, Abia State; the Court of Appeals in Abuja, had also reached similar conclusions, and have ordered for the immediate and unconditional release of MNK. There is no pending legal matter against MNK.”

Johnson also highlighted the United Nations Human Rights Council’s opinion on July 20, 2022, which deemed Kanu’s solitary confinement a violation of international human rights conventions. 

Stressing the illegality of extraordinary rendition under Nigerian and international law, Johnson called on the Nigerian Supreme Court to uphold judgments from subordinate courts and international tribunals, urging the immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu. 

He believes that such a ruling would contribute to restoring confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary, with the Supreme Court as its apex.

He said, “That MNK was Extraordinarily Renditioned is not in dispute; and that Extraordinary Rendition is illegal under Nigerian and International Law is also not in dispute.

“I, therefore, call on the Nigerian Supreme Court to uphold or affirm the considered judgments of its subordinate courts, and of the many International Tribunals, by ordering the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. 

“This anticipated ruling will hasten the process of restoring confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary, of which the Supreme Court is its apex court.” 

Nigeria’s supreme court is set to decide on December 15, 2023, whether to affirm numerous judgments and orders from various legal jurisdictions, both local and international, calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

Culled from Sahara Reporters