Jarvis Johnson, a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, has called on the Supreme Court to order the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The Supreme Court is set to deliver judgment in two separate appeals filed by Kanu and the federal government, with Kanu seeking release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a statement, Johnson highlighted the consensus of legal opinion, both within and outside Nigeria, expecting the Supreme Court to affirm numerous judgments and orders. He emphasized the extraordinary rendition of Kanu by the Nigerian government from Kenya on June 27, 2021, and underscored Kanu’s role as the leader of the non-violent IPOB, advocating for an internationally supervised referendum to address the Biafran issue within the Nigerian polity.
Johnson referenced a recent decision by the High Court of Enugu State, which held that the classification of IPOB as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government and the Southeast Governors’ Forum contravenes Section 42 of the Nigerian constitution. He argued that there is no valid legal basis for the continued solitary confinement of Kanu, as many Nigerian courts have previously ordered his immediate and unconditional release.
Furthermore, Johnson pointed to a United Nations Human Rights Council opinion issued on July 20, 2022, which found that Kanu’s solitary confinement violated International Human Rights Conventions, calling for his immediate and unconditional release. He called on the Nigerian Supreme Court to uphold the judgments of subordinate courts and international tribunals, emphasizing that such a ruling would contribute to restoring confidence in the Nigerian judiciary.
This statement adds an international perspective to the ongoing legal saga surrounding Nnamdi Kanu and amplifies calls for his release on the grounds of legal, constitutional, and human rights considerations.
