The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the British Government of selectively applying international law, alleging that the United Kingdom condemned Israeli settlement activity in Jerusalem while failing to act on a United Nations finding concerning the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB made the allegation in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in response to recent comments attributed to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on development and settlement activity in Jerusalem.

The separatist group said Britain’s position on Israel exposed what it described as a “double standard” in the country’s approach to international law and human rights.

IPOB referred to a determination by a United Nations human rights body concerning Kanu’s 2021 arrest and transfer from Kenya to Nigeria.

According to the group, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Kanu’s detention violated his fundamental rights and called for his release and compensation.

Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has remained in Nigerian custody since 2021 after being arrested in Kenya and transferred to Nigeria. He is facing terrorism-related charges before a Nigerian court.

Powerful alleged that Britain failed to adequately intervene in Kanu’s case despite his British citizenship.

“The same Britain now lecturing Israel about ‘international law’ turned a blind eye to the torture of a British citizen,” he said.

IPOB argued that Britain’s criticism of Israeli policies in Jerusalem should be accompanied by what it described as equal attention to the UN findings concerning Kanu.

The group also criticised Britain’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, accusing the government of presenting what it described as a one-sided assessment of developments in Jerusalem.

IPOB argued that any discussion of international law and settlement activity should also take into account Palestinian militant attacks, incitement and other issues it said were being overlooked.

“The Jewish people have the right to live throughout the historic and Biblical land of Israel. Jerusalem is Israel, and Israel is Jerusalem,” the statement said.

The group also invoked Britain’s 1917 Balfour Declaration and questioned what it described as Britain’s authority to lecture Israel on settlement and territorial issues while maintaining overseas territories.

IPOB said Britain should apply international law consistently and address the UN findings concerning Kanu with the same urgency it applies to issues involving Israel.

The group has continued to campaign for an independent state of Biafra for the Igbo people and has repeatedly called for Kanu’s release, arguing that his arrest and continued detention were unlawful.

The Nigerian government, however, has maintained that Kanu must face the charges against him through the country’s judicial process.