posted 27th February 2025
Nigeria Urged to Release Nnamdi Kanu Amid Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Nigeria – The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) have issued a call to the Nigerian government, urging President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to order the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu. The organisation argues that Kanu’s continued detention violates both national and international legal rulings, highlighting multiple human rights breaches.
On 26th October 2022, the Federal High Court of Nigeria ruled that Kanu’s arrest and extradition from Kenya were illegal. The court determined that his detention and alleged mistreatment in Abuja amounted to a fundamental rights violation under Section 34 (1)(a) of the Nigerian Constitution. Despite this ruling, Kanu remains in custody, with the government failing to implement the court’s decision, according to AVID.
Under Section 287(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, court decisions must be enforced by all authorities, meaning no further judicial process is required for Kanu’s release. AVID has called on the government to adhere to this constitutional obligation.
In December 2023, the Supreme Court of Nigeria rejected Kanu’s appeal against his detention, citing that he had previously been granted bail before fleeing. However, AVID argues that Kanu was forced to flee due to an armed invasion of his home by security forces, an act they claim was orchestrated by the Nigerian government.
According to AVID, the authorities misrepresented Kanu’s absence as intentional to justify revoking his bail and issuing an arrest warrant. The group asserts that the trial court’s decision was based on misleading information, making the legal process surrounding his case deeply flawed.
In January 2022, the High Court of Abia ruled in Kanu’s favour, stating that the invasion of his home was an unlawful attempt on his life and a clear violation of his fundamental rights. Further international pressure came in July 2022 when the United Nations Human Rights Council, through its Working Group, called on Nigeria to release Kanu immediately.
The UN ruling, based on Nigeria’s commitment to international treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, stated that Kanu’s extradition from Kenya in 2021 was unlawful and that he should be compensated. AVID argues that, as a UN member state, Nigeria is legally bound to implement the ruling.
With mounting legal and diplomatic pressure, AVID has urged President Tinubu to act decisively by either reinstating Kanu’s bail or discontinuing his prosecution. The group argues that Kanu’s detention is now more of a political issue than a legal one, falling within the President’s executive powers.
As Nigeria faces growing scrutiny over human rights and adherence to the rule of law, AVID has called on the government to make a definitive move. “The buck stops at the President’s table,” the group stated, emphasising that justice must be served.
Kanu’s continued detention has become a test case for Nigeria’s legal credibility and respect for international human rights obligations. With multiple judicial rulings in his favour and the UN’s directive calling for his release, the government’s next move is being closely watched both locally and internationally.
The situation remains tense, as activists and legal experts continue to pressure Nigerian authorities to comply with judicial and international mandates.
