The inhumane Treatment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Escalating Human Rights Violations in Nigeria raise urgent concern across the nation. The...
The inhumane Treatment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Escalating Human Rights Violations in Nigeria raise urgent concern across the nation. Their report draws the urgent attention of the international community to the escalating human rights violations in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, specifically the arbitrary detention, torture, inhumane treatment, and politically-motivated prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK), leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as well as the systemic brutality and extrajudicial killings occurring across the country.
The situation has now reached a critical level following his controversial life-sentence ruling on 20 November 2025, conducted under circumstances widely viewed as politically influenced, legally defective, and inconsistent with international human rights standards.
In their report, they call for urgent intervention by global institutions and democratic governments to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian and security crisis in Nigeria.
On 28 June 2021, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was illegally abducted from Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria, breaching all international Laws, including the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT), The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Kenya's domestic laws on extradition and due process.
Since then, Nnamdi Kanu has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement (over 4 years). He has been completely denied adequate medical treatment, Physical and psychological torture, systematic disregard for court orders, restricted access to his legal counsel and family. His health deterioration has been documented repeatedly, yet the Nigerian authorities ignored court directives, including rulings allowing him access to personal doctors.
The court ruling of 20 November 2025 represents a significant breach of judicial integrity.
Key irregularities in his judgement include;
A) Acceptance of Prosecution's Final Address, Rejection of Defence Submission.
The presiding judge admitted the prosecution's final written address but refused to admit the defence's own written address, effectively silencing Nnamdi Kanu's legal team.
B) Absence of a Valid Legal Basis for Conviction.
Despite repeated demands, the Nigerian government failed to provide a single law that justified the charges of "terrorism" or "treasonable offences.
C) Post-Sentencing Denial of Medical Hearing
A pending suit seeking access to MNK's personal doctors was resurrected only after his sentencing, only to be dismissed on the grounds that "a convicted person no longer needs such relief."
This sequence demonstrates a deliberate manipulation of judicial processes.
D) Sudden Transfer to Sokoto Maximum Prison
Within 48 hours of the ruling, Nnamdi Kanu was transferred to Sokoto, far from legal access, family, and medical support, despite grave concerns for his safety. Reports indicate that this transfer is intended to isolate him and place him in a vulnerable environment, contrary to international prison standards.
We hereby call upon:
The U.S. President Donald J. Trump
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres
The European Union leaders
The ECOWAS Commission
The African Union Peace and Security Council
The Governments of Germany, Israel, Russia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and others are urged tto intervene based on the following requests urgently
A. Immediate and Unconditional Release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
Based on international law, extraordinary rendition invalidates all subsequent trials. His detention is illegal, and the conviction is null and void.
B. Independent Medical Examination of Nnamdi Kanu to save his life.
C. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture should be granted immediate access to verify MNK's health condition.
C. A Full International Investigation into Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria.
This should cover:
Extrajudicial killings
Torture by state security forces
Sponsored terrorism
Attacks by armed Fulani groups
Government complicity and failure to act.
D. Establishment of an International Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Nigeria,
To observe court processes, prison conditions, and security operations.
Written by
Odiuko Uko
Edited by
OGN
For Enugu State Media Team
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