By Florencemary Nwabueze
The legal team representing detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu has strongly condemned public remarks advocating for his extrajudicial killing, describing the comments as "reckless, irresponsible, and unlawful."
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Special Counsel Aloy Ejimakor called out Mr. Chigozie Nnabugwu for urging the Nigerian government to eliminate Kanu during an appearance on News Central TV. The statement, broadcast at 1:14 PM on July 19, 2026, and subsequently shared on the network's verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Ejimakor's statement warns that the comments constitute a "clear threat to life" and risk "inciting a breakdown of public order."
The legal team has invoked Section 24(1) of Nigeria's Cybercrimes Act, which criminalizes the transmission of electronic messages that pose threats to life or are intended to cause a breakdown of law and order. Conviction under this provision carries penalties of up to ₦7 million in fines, three years imprisonment, or both.
Additionally, the legal team notes that the remarks may trigger liabilities under the Criminal Code for incitement to violence and related offenses.
News Central TV has also come under scrutiny for broadcasting the inflammatory content. According to the legal team, the network may face regulatory sanctions for breaching broadcast codes on incitement and public order, and could potentially face accessory liability under relevant laws.
"The call for extrajudicial execution while legal proceedings remain before the court directly subverts the judicial process and potentially constitutes actionable contempt of court," Ejimakor stated.
The legal team is currently reviewing all available legal options, including formal complaints to appropriate authorities.
Demands issued include: Mr. Chigozie Nnabugwu must issue an immediate public retraction of his statement. News Central TV must tender an unqualified televised apology for airing the dangerous content
The press release concludes by serving as a pre-action notice of all legal actions that will follow if the remedial measures are not taken promptly.
Kanu, who was in the custody of the Department of State Services since his controversial extradition from Kenya in June 2021, faced treason charges before the Federal High Court and is serving life sentence at Sokoto Correctional centre.