RismadarVoice Reporters
September 17, 2026
An Israeli lawmaker, Afef Abed, has written to the United Nations seeking renewed attention to the case of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, and urging consideration of recommendations previously issued by a UN human rights mechanism.
Abed, a member of Israel’s Knesset, addressed the letter dated September 1, 2026, to the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, urging his release.
The lawmaker called for a review of the implementation of Opinion No. 25/2022, in which the Working Group said Kanu’s detention was arbitrary and called for measures to remedy his situation.
In its 2022 opinion, the Working Group raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and his subsequent transfer to Nigeria. It recommended his immediate release and compensation or other reparations in accordance with international law.
Abed said his intervention was motivated by concerns about human rights, due process, the rule of law and respect for international legal mechanisms.
He urged the United Nations to seek an official update from the Nigerian Government on the steps taken in response to the Working Group’s recommendations and, where permitted, provide a public update on their implementation.
The Israeli parliamentarian also called for continued engagement with Nigeria to ensure that proceedings involving Kanu comply with applicable international human rights standards and Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
He further urged relevant UN mechanisms to continue monitoring developments concerning Kanu’s rights, due process and detention conditions.
The intervention comes after a major development in Kanu’s legal case.
In November 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Kanu on seven terrorism-related counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment on several counts. The court also imposed additional prison terms on other counts, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
The judgment followed a decade-long legal battle involving the IPOB leader.
Abed acknowledged the subsequent conviction in his letter but argued that it did not, in his view, remove the need to consider the concerns raised by the UN Working Group in its earlier opinion.
He therefore asked the UN to continue following the case and assess whether the recommendations contained in Opinion No. 25/2022 had been implemented.
The Israeli lawmaker also referred to calls by some members of the United States Congress for Kanu’s release.
He additionally raised allegations concerning Kanu’s health and access to medical care, asking the relevant international mechanisms to examine such claims where appropriate.
Abed said strengthening respect for international human rights institutions was a shared concern among democratic societies and urged the UN to maintain what he described as an independent and professional engagement with the case.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is mandated to investigate cases involving deprivation of liberty that may be inconsistent with international human rights standards and to engage governments and other relevant parties on such cases.
Kanu remains in custody following his 2025 conviction and life sentence. His legal team has previously indicated plans to challenge the judgment on appeal.