Biafra: The United Nations' Indictment of Nigeria And Kenyan Govt on Kanu's abduction--A victory for Justice and Freedom

Biafra: The United Nations' Indictment of Nigeria And Kenyan Govt on Kanu's abduction--A victory for Justice and Freedom The United ...

Biafra: The United Nations' Indictment of Nigeria And Kenyan Govt on Kanu's abduction--A victory for Justice and Freedom

The United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention indicted both Nigeria and Kenya Governments on the extra ordinary rendition and torture of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of Indigenous people of Biafra, according to statement the group made available some days ago.  The UN Working Group also threatened to take further action to ensure the recommendations are complied with, noting that both Nigeria and Kenya are signatories to the Convention and should comply. 

Recall that the abduction of Nnamdi Kanu occurred on 18th of June, 2021 in Kenya. Kenyan government in collaboration with Nigerian government abducted the IPOB leader, chained him on ground and subjected him to the most cruel torture.

Following this, the Working Group opines that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has indeed been targeted by the All Progressive Congress(APC) led Nigeria Government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari against his freedom of speech and expression, as well as his position regarding the sovereignty of Biafra.  On the account that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been targeted on for his activism in galvanising momentum for a referendum on the sovereignty of Biafra, “the Working Group considers that his detention violates articles 2 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2 (1) and 26 of the Covenant, and is arbitrary under category V.”

The council on the '16 page document' released on July 20, 2022 knocked both Nigeria and Kenya governments, and compelled both to  “immediately release the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally” and pay him adequate compensations for the arbitrary violation of his fundamental human rights.

The Group said in the document that Kanu was a victim of State sponsored persecution as Nigeria failed to prove and provide convincing explanations that he (Mazi Kanu) is guilty of treason and other criminal allegations levelled against him by the Nigeria government.

Part of the statements reads, ““Noting the failure of the Government to explain what actions of Mr. Kanu amounted to such criminal acts and how, and observing the lack of any evidence that any of his actions may in fact amount to such crimes, the Working Group concludes that Mr. Kanu is in fact being persecuted for the peaceful exercise of his rights, most notably his freedom of opinion and expression.

“In the present case, the Government of Nigeria has presented no exceptions permitted under article 19 (3) of the Covenant nor is there any evidence to suggest that Mr. Kanu’s exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression was anything but peaceful.

”In fact, the Government has chosen not to provide any explanation for the arrest, detention and subsequent proceedings against Mr. Kanu. In these circumstances, the Working Group concludes that Mr. Kanu’s detention is thus arbitrary under category II”, UN Working Group said.

For Family Writers Press International