JUDGE DISMISSES KINGSLEY KANU’S APPLICATION FOR UK FOREIGN MINISTRY TO RULE ON EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION.

The brother of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu, Kingsley Kanu yesterday lost a legal challenge against the British government about his continued detention in Nigeria after he brought a judicial review of London’s alleged refusal to officially acknowledge that Kanu was the victim of extraordinary rendition and unlawful detention.

In London, Judge Jonathan Swift rejected Kingsley’s application that the United Kingdom foreign ministry should rule on whether he was extraordinarily rendered and call for his release.

Swift dismissed the brother’s argument that the foreign secretary had acted irrationally by not doing so and said the minister had the right to determine what was in the UK’s diplomatic interests.

The Kanu family lawyers have argued that the case should lead to a reassessment of what official help is given to British nationals held abroad, particularly when there are suspected human rights violations.