A Catholic priest from the United States has issued a strong condemnation of the Nigerian government’s ongoing detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Reverend Father Augustine Odimmegwa, who coordinates the US-based nonprofit Rising Sun, characterized Kanu’s imprisonment as a severe violation of legal principles and an affront to justice.

In a Sunday statement circulated to media outlets, the cleric asserted that Kanu’s transfer from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 constituted an abduction rather than a lawful extradition. “This was not a legitimate transfer between nations,” Fr. Odimmegwa stated. “It was a forced abduction that invalidates any legal proceedings against him within Nigerian courts according to established legal principles.”

Kanu remains detained despite a significant 2022 ruling from Nigeria’s Court of Appeal which discharged him of all charges. The appellate court determined that the government’s extraordinary rendition of the IPOB leader was unlawful and stripped Nigerian courts of jurisdiction over his case. However, the Supreme Court subsequently suspended this verdict in late 2023, permitting authorities to pursue new charges.

Fr. Odimmegwa highlighted additional legal irregularities in the case, noting that prosecutors initially charged Kanu under the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2013, legislation that had already been repealed before proceedings began. “The government attempted to prosecute using a nonexistent legal framework,” the priest explained. “This fundamental flaw alone should have terminated the case indefinitely.”

The religious leader expressed deep concern over the judicial system’s handling of the matter, particularly the Supreme Court’s decision to intervene despite established legal conventions. “When an appellate court issues a discharge, that typically represents the final word,” he observed. “The extraordinary intervention to continue detention undermines judicial consistency and public trust.”

Recent weeks have witnessed renewed demonstrations across several Nigerian cities, including Abuja and Enugu, with protesters demanding Kanu’s immediate release. The detainee’s brother, Emmanuel Kanu, recently described the situation as “an affront to justice and humanity,” emphasizing that supporters from diverse ethnic backgrounds have joined the calls for due process.

Multiple international human rights organizations have echoed these concerns, urging Nigerian authorities to comply with judicial rulings and release Kanu unconditionally. Fr. Odimmegwa framed the issue as transcending any single individual, warning that “when fundamental rights are violated for one person, the protection of every citizen’s liberties becomes compromised.”

The priest concluded with a direct appeal to legal principles, stating, “This is not a request for special treatment but a demand for lawful proceedings. A nation that aspires to democratic governance cannot selectively disregard its own judiciary. The international community observes these developments closely, awaiting a resolution that honors the rule of law.”