An Israeli lawmaker, Afef Abbed, has written to the United Nations seeking renewed attention to the conviction and continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
Abbed, a member of Israel’s Knesset, made the request in a September 1, 2026 letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
In the letter titled, “Call for the Implementation of the Opinion and Recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Concerning Mr. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Abbed urged the UN to review whether the recommendations contained in Opinion No. 25/2022 had been implemented.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had, in its 2022 opinion, concluded that Kanu’s deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and called on the governments of Nigeria and Kenya to take steps to remedy his situation.
Abbed said the Working Group had recommended Kanu’s immediate release, compensation and other reparations in accordance with international law.
He also drew attention to the Working Group’s findings concerning Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and subsequent transfer to Nigeria, saying the circumstances surrounding those events warranted investigation.
The Israeli lawmaker further referenced Kanu’s conviction by the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025 and his sentence to life imprisonment on terrorism-related charges.
He argued that the subsequent legal developments did not diminish the concerns raised in the Working Group’s 2022 opinion.
Abbed asked the UN to request an official update from the Nigerian government on measures taken in response to the Working Group’s findings and recommendations.
He also urged the UN to consider issuing a public update on the implementation of the opinion, subject to its procedures.
The lawmaker called for continued engagement with the Nigerian government to ensure that proceedings concerning Kanu comply with international human rights standards and Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Abbed also urged relevant UN human rights mechanisms to continue monitoring issues surrounding Kanu’s due process rights, fundamental rights and conditions of detention.
He further raised concerns over allegations about Kanu’s health and access to medical care, including claims that he had not been provided adequate treatment and that his personal physician had been prevented from attending to him.
Abbed asked the relevant UN mechanisms to examine the allegations, particularly those concerning the health and fundamental rights of a detainee.
The Israeli lawmaker also cited a recent call by United States Congressman John James for Kanu’s immediate release.
Abbed said his intervention was aimed at strengthening respect for international legal institutions, human rights mechanisms, the rule of law and due process.
He urged the UN bodies to maintain what he described as professional, consistent and independent engagement with Kanu’s case.
