Kenyan Court Ruling on Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest Irrelevant to Ongoing Abuja Trial – Legal Analyst

DDM News

A recent ruling by a High Court in Kenya, which awarded monetary damages over the abduction of Nnamdi Kanu, has stirred renewed debate on social media, especially among Biafran supporters.

However, legal experts insist the decision holds no bearing on the charges Kanu is currently facing before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the Kenyan court’s judgment, which faulted the manner in which Kanu was brought from Kenya to Nigeria, has been exaggerated online by pro-Biafra campaigners.

Many claim the ruling undermines the legitimacy of Kanu’s trial in Nigeria, but legal analysts have warned that such interpretations are misleading and designed to misinform the public.

According to a legal expert, the Kenyan ruling merely addressed the violation of lawful extradition procedures and subsequently awarded damages to Kanu.

He clarified that the judgment is “tangential” and “inconsequential” to the criminal trial in Abuja, which focuses on serious charges, including terrorism and incitement.

Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was first arrested in 2015 but fled Nigeria following the killing of his parents by Nigerian Army

He was abducted, manhandled in 2021 and returned to Nigeria

While courts in Nigeria have acknowledged that Kanu’s return did not follow standard extradition protocols, they have also ruled that the method of arrest does not invalidate the charges against him.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has maintained jurisdiction over the case and continues to hear it based on its legal merits.

The legal expert accused IPOB’s “propaganda machinery” of distorting the relevance of the Kenyan ruling to mislead their online audience.

He compared this to previous misrepresentations, including claims that the Appeal Court and Supreme Court had acquitted Kanu, which were later clarified or reversed.

He further reminded the public of a separate ruling by a High Court in Umuahia that awarded Kanu monetary damages on an unrelated matter, stressing that civil awards do not impact the ongoing criminal proceedings in Abuja.

“The propaganda surrounding the Kenyan ruling is designed to deceive and mislead the uninformed,” the expert said. “It serves only to promote the IPOB narrative, not to reflect the legal reality.”

He urged the public, particularly Nigerians in the South-East and the diaspora, to remain cautious and well-informed, warning that misinformation could fuel false expectations and deepen confusion around the legal process.

As the trial proceeds in Abuja, judicial authorities are expected to remain focused on the criminal allegations against Kanu, independent of civil litigation outcomes in other jurisdictions.

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