US lawmaker demands unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu

Johnson underscored the circumstances surrounding Kanu’s detention, stating that he was “extraordinarily renditioned” by the government of Nigeria from Kenya on June 27, 2021. The lawmaker stressed that Kanu, both then and now, remains the leader of IPOB, a non-violent group advocating for an internationally supervised referendum to address the Biafran issue within the Nigerian polity.

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Recent legal developments, including the Enugu State High Court’s decision on October 30, 2023, played a crucial role in Johnson’s call for Kanu’s release. The court ruled that classifying IPOB as a terrorist group by the Government of Nigeria (GON) and the Southeast Governor’s Forum contravened Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution.

Moreover, Johnson pointed out that other Nigerian courts, including the high court in Umuhia, Abia State, and the Court of Appeals in Abuja, had reached similar conclusions, ordering the immediate and unconditional release of Kanu. The U.S. lawmaker highlighted that there are no pending legal matters against Kanu.

Citing international opinions, Johnson referred to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s stance on July 20, 2022, which found Kanu’s solitary confinement in violation of International Human Rights Conventions.