Nnamdi Kanu's Lawyers Threaten Legal Action Over Call for His Execution

Nnamdi Kanu's legal team is ready to take action against Chigozie Nnabugwu. Nnabugwu called on the Nigerian government to kill Kanu as the only way to bring peace to the South-east.

Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu's special counsel, shared this news in a statement on his X handle on Tuesday.

Kanu is the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He is currently serving a life sentence in Sokoto prison after being convicted in November last year.

He has filed an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

IPOB is a group that wants the South-east and South-south to break away from Nigeria. They have been linked to violent attacks in those regions.

While speaking on News Central TV on Monday, Nnabugwu, from Imo State, said that insecurity has decreased in the South-east since Kanu and another pro-Biafra activist, Simon Ekpa, were jailed for terrorism.

He argued that if the government were to kill Kanu, “normalcy” would return to the area.

Nnabugwu's statements caused outrage among many Nigerians, especially on social media, with many calling his comments harsh and careless.

In the statement released on Tuesday, Ejimakor, who shared a clip of the TV program, said that Nnabugwu's words were a call for Kanu's extrajudicial killing.

“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,’” Ejimakor said.

The special counsel called the comments reckless and irresponsible, saying they could cause violence.

“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,” he stated.

Ejimakor claimed that Nnabugwu’s remarks broke the Cybercrimes Act (2024).

“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,” he said.

Ejimakor added that this offence can lead to a fine of up to N7 million or up to three years in prison. He noted that there could be more legal issues under the Criminal Code for inciting violence.

Ejimakor also criticized News Central TV for airing “inflammatory comments” about Kanu.

“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,” he said.

Ejimakor pointed out that Nnabugwu’s call for Kanu’s execution while his appeal is still in court interferes with the judicial process.

“Demanding an extrajudicial execution while legal proceedings remain before the court directly subverts the judicial process and potentially constitutes actionable contempt of court,” he said.

The legal team has asked for an apology and retraction from Nnabugwu and News Central TV for their remarks and broadcast. They see this statement as a warning before taking further action.

“We hereby demand that Mr Chigozie Nnabugwu issue an immediate public retraction of his statement, and that the News Central TV tender an unqualified televised apology for airing such dangerous content,” he stated.