IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu has petitioned US, AU, and Foreign Missions over ‘unlawful detention’ in Nigeria.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has formally petitioned U.S. President Donald Trump, the African Union, and several international organizations seeking urgent intervention for his release from what he described as unlawful captivity.
In a petition dated August 22, 2025, and obtained by NewsOnline Nigeria, Kanu addressed the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, European Union, Netherlands, Sweden, Amnesty International, Red Cross, ECOWAS Court, and several other countries and human rights bodies.
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Kanu, a dual Nigerian-British citizen, stated he has been held in solitary confinement since June 2021 and condemned the Nigerian Supreme Court for overturning his acquittal by the Court of Appeal on October 13, 2022. He called the Supreme Court’s December 15, 2023 ruling unconstitutional, alleging it violated his fundamental rights and amounted to double jeopardy.
“The Supreme Court’s lawlessness, compounded by the Court of Appeal’s illegal stay of execution, undermines the rule of law. I seek your assistance to restore justice,” Kanu wrote.
He accused the Nigerian judiciary of political bias and reckless lawlessness, noting that his abduction from Kenya as a UK citizen violated the Extradition Act 2004 and his right to a fair trial. Kanu further alleged that the UK government failed to protect his rights under international law.
The petition demands:
Immediate enforcement of the Court of Appeal’s October 13, 2022 discharge retroactively
Nullification of the October 28, 2022 stay of execution
Immediate release from detention
International condemnation of Nigeria’s judicial lawlessness
Accountability from the UK for failing to protect his rights
Kanu warned that his continued detention could endanger his life, urging the international community to intervene and consider escalation to international courts or sanctions if Nigeria fails to comply.
“The Supreme Court’s December 15, 2023 reversal, compounded by the Court of Appeal’s illegal stay, represents a systemic collapse of the rule of law in Nigeria,” he added.
