The brother of a British national detained in Nigeria has accused the UK government of failing to intervene in his case, despite a Nigerian court ruling confirming that he was subjected to extraordinary rendition.
Kingsley Kanu, the brother of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take action and protect British citizens.
Speaking from Germany, Kingsley expressed frustration over what he described as the UK government’s inaction, stating:
“Up to this day, the previous government and today’s government have not been able to accept or to take the stand and call the Nigerian government to say stop,” Kingsley said in an interview from Germany. “They should wake up to defend British citizens. I find it very astonishing.”
Nnamdi Kanu, a dual British-Nigerian national and father of two, came to prominence after launching Radio Biafra, a London-based digital radio station that supported the Biafran separatist movement.
His advocacy coincided with the resurgence of mass Biafra secessionist protests in Nigeria—the first since the country’s brutal civil war (1967–1970).
Wanted by Nigerian authorities since 2015, Kanu fled the country in 2017 after his residence was raided in a military operation known as “Python Dance”, during which at least 28 members of Ipob were killed.
In 2021, Kanu was arrested in Kenya and transferred to Nigeria in an act of extraordinary rendition—a practice deemed unlawful by international law, the UN, and a Nigerian court. Since then, he has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges, including terrorism and treason, with seven charges still pending.
Despite Kingsley Kanu challenging the UK government’s handling of the case, the courts ultimately dismissed his legal challenge.
However, the judge acknowledged that Nnamdi Kanu had indeed been subjected to extraordinary rendition, a view previously rejected by multiple former Foreign Secretaries.
In 2023, a UK Court of Appeal suggested that the government’s stance “might well be different” if the Nigerian Supreme Court upheld the Nigerian Court of Appeal’s ruling that Kanu’s arrest and transfer were unlawful. With the Nigerian Supreme Court now confirming this, Kingsley has questioned why the UK government remains silent.
He said the Nigerian supreme court ruling in December 2023 provided a clear route for the UK government to take action. But Kingsley has yet to hear from Starmer, the fourth prime minister during the period of his brother’s detention.
A Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “We are providing consular support to Mr Kanu and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives. We have raised his case with the Nigerian authorities.”
However, Kingsley and his family insist this response is inadequate, pointing to Kanu’s harsh prison conditions, including long periods in solitary confinement, poor hygiene, and a lack of medical treatment for his heart condition.
With the Nigerian judiciary recognising Kanu’s extraordinary rendition, pressure is growing on the UK government to intervene. The case has reignited concerns over human rights violations, diplomatic responsibilities, and the UK’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
The Nigerian embassy has been approached for comment, but no response has been provided at this time.
