By Kalu Obasi Benjamin
Lead counsel to detained IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, has threatened legal action following a televised comment calling for the extrajudicial execution of his client.
In an official statement, Ejimakor strongly condemned the remarks allegedly made by Mr. Chigozie Nnabugwu during a live broadcast on News Central Television. Nnabugwu reportedly urged the federal government to kill Kanu as a means to restore peace and order across the South-East region.
Ejimakor labeled the statement “reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful,” arguing that publicly advocating for the death of an individual whose trial is actively pending before a court of competent jurisdiction is a direct attack on due process.
He emphasized that airing such dangerous rhetoric puts Kanu’s life at serious risk, incites public violence, and disrupts national peace while his legal proceedings are still ongoing.
The defense attorney noted that the comment potentially breaches Section 24(1) of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, which penalizes transmitting electronic messages designed to threaten human life or cause a breakdown of public order.
He warned that individuals disseminating such calls for violence face serious legal consequences, including heavy fines, imprisonment, or both under existing criminal statutes.
Turning his focus to the media organization, Ejimakor criticized News Central Television for broadcasting the comment and subsequently sharing it on their official social media handles. He reminded broadcast platforms of their legal obligation to filter out hate speech and illegal threats, warning that facilitating calls for extrajudicial violence exposes media outlets to strict regulatory penalties from broadcasting authorities.
Concluding his statement, Ejimakor revealed that Kanu’s legal team is actively assessing regulatory petitions and court actions. He demanded a prompt, unambiguous retraction from Nnabugwu and a full public apology from News Central Television, warning that failure to meet these demands will result in immediate legal proceedings to defend Kanu’s constitutional rights.
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