An Israeli lawmaker, MK Afef Abed, has appealed to the United Nations to review the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Abed, a member of Israel’s Knesset, reportedly sent a 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.
The lawmaker asked the international body to examine whether Nigeria has implemented recommendations contained in an earlier UN Working Group opinion concerning Kanu’s detention.
UN Working Group Had Called for Kanu’s Release
In Opinion No. 25/2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Kanu’s deprivation of liberty was arbitrary.
The Working Group called on the governments of Nigeria and Kenya to take steps to remedy the situation. It also identified Kanu’s immediate release and compensation or other reparations as an appropriate remedy.
Abed said the opinion remained important despite subsequent developments in Kanu’s case.
He argued that the Nigerian authorities should provide an update on the steps taken in response to the UN recommendations.
Kanu’s Life Sentence
Kanu’s legal situation changed significantly after the 2022 UN opinion.
In November 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on seven terrorism-related counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment on several counts. Additional prison terms were imposed on other counts, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
The court proceedings followed years of litigation after Kanu was arrested in Kenya in 2021 and returned to Nigeria.
Israeli Lawmaker Requests Further UN Review
In his letter, Abed asked the UN to seek an official update from Nigeria on the implementation of Opinion No. 25/2022.
He also called for continued monitoring of the case by relevant UN human rights mechanisms.
According to the letter, the UN should encourage Nigerian authorities to ensure that proceedings involving Kanu comply with applicable human rights standards and Nigeria’s obligations under international law.
Abed also referred to concerns raised over Kanu’s access to medical care and urged the relevant international mechanisms to examine such allegations.
Request for Rights-Based Resolution
The Israeli lawmaker said his intervention was motivated by his stated commitment to human rights, due process and international law.
He urged the UN to maintain engagement with Nigeria and encourage a resolution that takes account of the UN Working Group’s previous recommendations.
The latest intervention does not itself order Kanu’s release. The UN Working Group’s 2022 opinion was a recommendation rather than an automatic mechanism for releasing a detainee.
