Nnamdi Kanu's legal team has threatened legal action against Chigozie Nnabugwu, who called on the Nigerian government to kill the IPOB leader as the only remedy to restore peace in the Southeast. Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Kanu, disclosed this in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday.
Background of the case
Kanu is the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and is currently serving a life sentence in Sokoto prison following his conviction in November last year. He has filed an appeal against his conviction before the Court of Appeal in Abuja. IPOB, a group seeking secession of the Southeast and South-south from Nigeria, has been linked to deadly attacks in the two regions.
Nnabugwu's comments
While appearing as a guest on News Central TV on Monday, Nnabugwu, who hails from Imo State, noted that insecurity has reduced in the Southeast since Kanu and another pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, were arrested and convicted for terrorism. He argued that if the federal government should kill Kanu, normalcy would return to the region. His comments drew widespread condemnation on social media, with many describing his call as harsh and reckless.
Legal team's reaction
Reacting in the Tuesday statement, Ejimakor uploaded a clip of the TV programme and argued that the remarks were a call for extrajudicial killing of the IPOB leader. He said: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team hereby strongly condemns the statement made by one Mr Chigozie Nnabugwu on News Central TV, in which he publicly urged the Government of Nigeria to kill our client for ‘normalcy to return to the Southeast.’”
The special counsel described the comments as reckless, irresponsible, and capable of inciting violence. He stated: “To be sure, this call for extrajudicial killing is reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful. And it constitutes a clear threat to life and risks inciting a breakdown of public order.”
Legal violations cited
Ejimakor contended that the remarks violated the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act (2024). He said: “The call strains the boundaries set under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the knowing or intentional transmission of messages via electronic means, including those amplified on broadcast platforms and social media, that pose a threat to life or are intended to cause a breakdown of law and order.” The offence carries up to N7 million fine or up to three years imprisonment, and additional criminal liabilities could arise under the Criminal Code for incitement to violence and related offences.
Criticism of News Central TV
The lawyer criticised the television station for providing a platform for inflammatory comments against Kanu. He stated: “By airing and platforming this inflammatory content without due regard for its potential to incite violence or threaten public peace, News Central TV may face regulatory sanctions for breach of broadcast codes on incitement and public order.”
Demand for retraction and apology
Ejimakor argued that Nnabugwu's call for Kanu's execution while court proceedings remain pending before the Court of Appeal amounted to interference with the judicial process. He said: “Demanding an extrajudicial execution while legal proceedings remain before the court directly subverts the judicial process and potentially constitutes actionable contempt of court.”
The special counsel said the legal team has demanded an apology and retraction from Nnabugwu and News Central TV for the remarks and the publication, considering the press statement as a pre-action notice if they fail to retract. He concluded: “We hereby demand that Mr Chigozie Nnabugwu issue an immediate public retraction of his statement, and that the New Central TV tender an unqualified televised apology for airing such dangerous content.”
