Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that contrary to the claims by Nigerian security operatives, he was not arrested and extradited from Kenya but was instead kidnapped and forcibly brought back to Nigeria under circumstances he described as a violation of international law. He made the revelation during court proceedings, challenging the government' s narrative that he was lawfully arrested and repatriated.

Kanu, who is facing terrorism- related charges brought against him by the Nigerian government, addressed the court during the latest hearing of his ongoing trial. He firmly rejected the official version of his return to Nigeria in June 2021, stating that he was abducted by security agents while in Nairobi, Kenya, and was held incommunicado for several days before being flown to Nigeria against his will. According to him, his abduction did not follow due process and amounted to extraordinary rendition, an illegal act under both Nigerian and international law.

The Nigerian government had earlier claimed that Kanu was arrested in Kenya through collaborative efforts with Interpol and other international security agencies, and brought back to face trial for inciting violence and operating an outlawed group. However, Kanu and his legal team have consistently argued that no formal extradition process was followed, and that his removal from Kenya was orchestrated through covert operations that violated his rights.