The Indigenous People of Biafra has accused the British Government of applying international law selectively over the continued detention and prosecution of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
IPOB made the allegation in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, while reacting to recent comments by the British Foreign Secretary on real estate development in Jerusalem.
The group said Britain lacked the moral authority to lecture Israel on international law while allegedly ignoring findings and recommendations by United Nations human rights bodies concerning Kanu.
IPOB claimed that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had found that Kanu was subjected to torture and extraordinary rendition after he was forcibly returned to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021.
According to the group, the UN body called for Kanu’s immediate release and compensation over the alleged violations.
“The United Nations Human Rights Council, acting under the United Nations General Assembly, has officially indicted Nigeria for gross violations of international law and jus cogens norms in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement said.
IPOB also accused the British Government of failing to support the alleged UN findings despite Kanu being a British citizen.
It alleged that Britain had instead assisted Nigeria in disregarding international law in Kanu’s case.
“The same Britain now lecturing Israel about ‘international law’ turned a blind eye to the torture of a British citizen,” the group said.
IPOB also criticised the British Government’s position on Israel, describing it as one-sided and accusing Britain of failing to adequately address what it described as Palestinian terrorism, incitement and the Palestinian Authority’s “pay for slay” policy.
The group said it rejected what it called the “patronising tone” of Britain’s position on Israel, insisting that Jerusalem was Israel’s “eternal and undivided capital.”
It further cited the Balfour Declaration in arguing that Britain had historically recognised the Jewish people’s right to the land.
IPOB subsequently demanded consistency in Britain’s application of international law, calling on the British Government to publicly support the UN findings concerning Kanu, demand his release and compensation, and end what it described as the selective use of international law for political convenience.
Kanu is serving a life sentence in Sokoto State after being convicted on treason-related charges. He has denied the charges and appealed against the sentence.
