Barrister Njoku Jude Njoku, a human rights lawyer based in the UK, has accused the Nigerian government of violating both local and international laws during the extradition and trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Njoku warned that the handling of Kanu’s case posed a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.
Njoku criticized the forced extradition of Kanu from Kenya without proper judicial authorization, calling it a breach of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He also condemned the December 2023 ruling by Nigeria’s Supreme Court in the case of FRN v. Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that the court had prioritized executive convenience over constitutional principles. He emphasized that the integrity of justice could not stand on a foundation of illegality.
The lawyer pointed out several legal violations, including the failure to adhere to fair hearing requirements under both Kenyan and Nigerian laws. He also criticized the shift in Kanu’s charges from treasonable felony to terrorism, noting issues with jurisdiction under Nigeria’s Extradition Act. Njoku added that Nigeria’s actions violated both the African Charter and Commonwealth extradition frameworks.
Njoku further stated that the Supreme Court’s refusal to uphold these legal standards undermined public trust in the judiciary’s independence. He also referenced a 2022 Court of Appeal ruling that had discharged Kanu due to breaches of fair hearing, warning that the Supreme Court’s reversal of this decision set a dangerous legal precedent.
Njoku cautioned that the ruling by Justice Garba could weaken protections for due process in future extradition cases, potentially drawing more international criticism. He concluded by stressing that no legal system, including Nigeria’s, should allow illegal actions to serve as a basis for legal decisions.
