Several Igbo diaspora organisations have condemned the United Kingdom government for what they describe as its “silence and complicity” in the life imprisonment of British citizen and IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by a Federal High Court in Nigeria.
In a joint statement, the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self-Determination (ASD), and the Rising Sun Foundation (RSF) criticised the UK for failing to intervene despite Kanu’s controversial rendition from Kenya in June 2021 and his trial under what they claim is a repealed law.
“The UK government has abandoned one of its own citizens,” said Dr. Sylvester Onyia, president of AVID. “A British passport holder was abducted abroad, tried under a repealed statute, and sentenced to life imprisonment, yet London remains silent. This silence is deeply troubling and undermines the credibility of the UK’s human rights posture.”
Kanu was sentenced on November 20, 2025, despite a Court of Appeal judgment on October 13, 2022, which acquitted him and ordered his release. The diaspora groups argue that his rendition violated multiple international agreements, including the UK–Nigeria Extradition Treaty, the European Convention on Extradition, the UN Convention Against Torture, and provisions of Nigerian law that prohibit the trial of renditioned suspects.
“When other governments unlawfully detain British citizens, the UK is vocal,” said ASD president, Evans Nwankwo. “But in this case, it is silent. The message sent to Kanu, the Igbo diaspora, and the world is one of tacit endorsement of injustice.”
The organisations noted that Kanu’s political advocacy is peaceful and legally protected in the UK, where the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is formally registered. They warned that Britain’s silence risks setting a dangerous precedent that suggests the rights of British citizens can be compromised for political convenience.
“The UK must act,” said Maxwell Dede, director of RSF. “Immediate diplomatic engagement, consular access, sanctions review, and parliamentary scrutiny are non-negotiable. Silence here is complicity.”
The groups also accused the UK of ethnic bias and historical neglect, drawing parallels to Britain’s role during the 1967–1970 Biafran War. They said the government’s current stance is “alarming” and inconsistent with the UK’s global image as a defender of human rights.
While the Nigerian government insists that Kanu’s trial followed due process and was driven by national security considerations, the Igbo diaspora organisations are calling for a parliamentary inquiry in the UK and for international monitoring of Kanu’s detention and health.
“This is not merely a Nigerian issue—it is a test of UK values,” Onyia said. “Due process, human rights, and protection of citizens are non-negotiable. The world is watching, and the UK must act.”
