(DDM) – The Rising Sun Foundation, a United States–based advocacy group, has called on the United Kingdom government to demand accountability from Nigerian authorities over the arrest and conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The call comes ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s expected visit to the UK, with the group insisting that the matter must be addressed before any official engagements with King Charles III.
In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by its president, Dr. Maxwell Dede, the foundation described Kanu’s 2021 arrest as an “unlawful abduction and extraordinary rendition.”
The group urged British authorities not to allow Tinubu’s visit to proceed without pressing Nigerian officials for clarity on Kanu’s arrest and transfer.
Kanu, who holds British citizenship, was reportedly arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and subsequently transferred to Nigeria under circumstances that have drawn international criticism.
The Nigerian government has confirmed his return but maintains that the transfer did not constitute an illegal rendition.
The Rising Sun Foundation claimed that the UK Foreign Office has, for nearly five years, sought clarifications from Nigeria regarding Kanu’s arrest without receiving what it describes as a transparent or satisfactory response.
Dr. Dede said, “For a British citizen traveling on a valid UK passport to be abducted from a third country and rendered to Nigeria without due process is a matter that demands urgent and serious attention.”
The foundation criticized the UK government for failing in its duty of care to Kanu, arguing that political and economic interests should not override fundamental human rights.
“It is morally indefensible for the state that created Nigeria and remains one of its principal partners to abandon its duty of care toward a British citizen for political convenience,” the statement read.
The group also cited “credible reports” about the aircraft and logistical arrangements allegedly used in Kanu’s transfer, suggesting possible international complicity.
Dr. Dede added that the UK’s continued silence has fueled public suspicion that powerful international actors may have been aware of or involved in the operation.
The foundation outlined specific demands for the UK government and the British monarch during Tinubu’s visit.
These include a full public explanation from Nigerian authorities, clarification of the legal basis for Kanu’s arrest in Kenya, and an independent inquiry if satisfactory answers are not provided.
Dr. Dede emphasized, “If the United Kingdom wishes to show it was not a silent partner—or worse, an instigator—in the unlawful abduction of its own citizen, then this visit presents a clear and unavoidable test.”
He concluded by stressing that “justice demands answers” and that global attention is focused on how both the Nigerian and UK governments respond.
The Rising Sun Foundation warned that failure to address these concerns could undermine public confidence in international accountability and human rights protections.
The case has reignited debates over citizen protection, diplomatic obligations, and cross-border enforcement in politically sensitive situations.
Analysts say the UK’s response to the foundation’s demands could set a precedent for how states handle allegations of unlawful rendition involving foreign nationals.
The issue also highlights broader tensions between human rights advocacy, international diplomacy, and political expediency in contemporary Nigeria-UK relations.
Civil society groups and human rights advocates continue to monitor the situation closely, calling for transparency and due process in Kanu’s case.
