A lawyer and political analyst, Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, has criticized the life sentence handed to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as further proof of Nigeria’s deeply flawed justice system. According to him, the case reflects a troubling pattern in which the state aggressively punishes some individuals while appearing to protect others whose actions pose equal or greater threats to national security.

Omirhobo argued that while Nnamdi Kanu has been “arrested, detained, tried, and now convicted,” Sheikh Ahmad Gumi — who openly interacts with armed bandit groups, negotiates with terrorists, defends their activities, and makes inflammatory public statements — continues to operate freely without even being invited for questioning by security agencies.

He stressed that such disparity is not only morally wrong but also unconstitutional, pointing to Sections 17, 36, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, equal protection for all citizens, and protection from discriminatory law enforcement practices.

In the statement he personally signed, Omirhobo remarked that in contemporary Nigeria, a man can be prosecuted for speech while another who regularly engages with violent non-state actors is regarded as a “mediator.”

A portion of his statement reads:

“This is not rule of law. This is rule by selective discretion.
Nnamdi Kanu: accused of making inflammatory broadcasts;
Charged, tried, and convicted; arrested through extraordinary rendition; denied consistent access to justice for years.

“Sheikh Ahmad Gumi: Enters terrorist camps freely;
Meets armed criminals responsible for mass killings and kidnappings;
Publicly defends them; undermines national security repeatedly.
ZERO arrest. ZERO prosecution. ZERO accountability.”

Omirhobo further argued:

“If broadcasts amount to terrorism, then direct contact, negotiation, and advocacy for armed groups constitute far more grievous offences. Nigeria cannot claim to be fighting terrorism while pampering individuals who openly engage with terrorists.
“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. In this case, it is clearly not seen.”

He called on relevant authorities — including the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force — to uphold the same legal standards for every citizen, regardless of identity or political alignment.

He continued:

“Investigate Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for his open engagement with terror groups. End the culture of selective prosecution that has become the hallmark of governance. Restore public confidence in the justice system by demonstrating fairness and impartiality.
“A nation cannot claim to be fighting insecurity while protecting those who fraternise with the authors of national sorrow. The conviction of Nnamdi Kanu while Sheikh Gumi remains untouched is a glaring example of double standards.
“Until the Nigerian state demonstrates that the law is blind to religion and ethnicity, its fight against insecurity will remain compromised. Justice must be equal. Justice must be uniform.
Justice must be blind. Anything less is injustice.”