Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team Threatens Action Over Call for Extrajudicial Execution

The legal team representing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has threatened legal action following public comments by an individual advocating for Kanu’s extrajudicial execution.

The defense team strongly condemned remarks made by Chigozie Nnabugwu during a live television broadcast on Monday, where he claimed that killing the detained IPOB leader would restore peace and stability to the South-East region.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, characterized the comments as reckless, unlawful, and a direct threat to human life.

“To be sure, this call for extrajudicial execution is reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful. And it constitutes a clear threat to life and risks inciting a breakdown of public order,” Ejimakor stated.

The legal team noted that advocating for extrajudicial killing violates Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes Act, which penalizes the transmission of electronic messages intended to cause public disruption or pose a threat to life—an offense punishable by up to three years imprisonment, a ₦7 million fine, or both. Ejimakor added that demanding the execution of an individual with active court proceedings subverts the judicial process and constitutes actionable contempt of court.

Kanu’s defense team issued a formal pre-action notice demanding an immediate public retraction from Nnabugwu and an unreserved apology from the broadcasting network for airing inflammatory content.

The broadcast generated widespread backlash across social media platforms, with commentators and legal observers warning that extrajudicial measures would only escalate tension rather than resolve systemic issues in the region.

Kanu has remained in federal custody since 2021 and continues to stand trial on terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.