Nigerian lawyers have strongly condemned the United States government's decision to put captured Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, on trial in a Washington court. They label the action as an act of lawlessness and a clear violation of international legal standards.
Violation of Sovereign Immunity
The legal professionals argue that a sitting head of state possesses sovereign immunity, which protects them from prosecution in another country's courts. They assert that trying President Maduro in the United States directly contravenes this fundamental principle.
Okueyelegbe Sylvanus Maliki, an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, was unequivocal in his criticism. "The U.S. is perpetrating lawlessness and illegality by their action," he stated.
A Clash Between Law and Power
The dramatic events unfolded starting Saturday, with a U.S. military airstrike leading to the capture of Maduro and his wife. The deposed leader was scheduled to appear in a New York City courtroom on Monday, January 6, 2026, to face drug and weapon charges.
Another lawyer and public affairs analyst, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, provided a nuanced perspective. He acknowledged that while international law grants immunity to a sitting president, the enforcement of that law by a more powerful nation is a separate issue entirely.
"If you ask me whether it is legal to capture a sitting president and take him to another country for trial, my straight answer is 'no'," Enekweizu said. He explained that the invasion of one country to capture another's leader runs contrary to all international statutes.
However, he pointed to the reality of global power dynamics. "The question of international law is more of a 'might against right.' America has all the power to do what they do, and there is nobody on earth today that can stop them," he concluded, describing the United Nations as having become a "toothless bulldog."
Mixed Reactions and a Lesson for Leaders
Enekweizu noted that international opinion on the matter is divided. While many have condemned the U.S. action, others see it as appropriate punishment for Maduro. He observed that even within Venezuela, some citizens celebrated the removal of their president.
"There is a lesson for leaders all over the world," Enekweizu added. "When the Venezuelan president started doing the things he did to his people, he made himself vulnerable to things like this."
In his reaction, Dr. Yemi Omodele described the development as unlawful and an international disgrace. "To try a sitting president of a country in another country is not in line with international law at all," Omodele asserted. He believed the U.S. would face unforeseen sanctions and that former President Donald Trump would not go unpunished for his role.
Offering a contrasting legal viewpoint, Mr. Oyebanji Abuloye highlighted the Ker-Frisbie doctrine in U.S. domestic law. This doctrine allows American courts to try a foreign leader regardless of how they were brought to U.S. soil, even if the capture violated international law, marking a radical departure from global norms.
